Two NRA Lobbyists Working for McCain; Do They Violate Campaign Rules?

Looks like Rick Davis isn’t the only lobbyist problem the McCain camp is dealing with these days.

Mother Jones reports that two actively-registered lobbyists are currently working on John McCain’s campaign for president.

Wayne Berman, co-chairs McCain’s national finance committee. James Jay Baker co-steers McCain’s National Steering Committee of Sportsmen for McCain. Both work for the lobbying firm, Ogilvy Government Relations as managing directors.

This month, the NRA — a client of Baker and Berman’s — launched attack ads against Barack Obama. MoJo points out that besides conflicting with McCain’s claims for running a straight-shooting, non-lobbyist campaign, Berman and Baker’s presence also could come into conflict with the actual campaign rules that banned active lobbyists from working full time for the campaign, or participating in 527s or groups that “oppose any presidential candidate.”

From Mother Jones:

Asked whether he might be in violation of the campaign’s conflict rules, Berman told Mother Jones, “Hmmm, I hadn’t thought of that.” He said he was currently lobbying for the NRA but not involved in the group’s campaign activities. “I’m in full compliance with campaign policy,” he maintained. “I will check over there….I will continue to be in compliance. If that requires me to make changes, I’ll make them.” He added, “You’ve done me a favor” by raising this issue.