Weeks before the New York Times posted its piece about Republican Presidential candidate John McCain's alleged improper relationship with lobbyist Vicki Iseman, some Web-borne wag using the screen name "EllaLohan" was dropping both McCain's and Iseman's names in random comments all over the 'net. The poster hinted at a sexual relationship between the two, an angle not even Drudge took when it reported on the lobbying angle between Iseman and McCain months ago.

(Also, Iseman's revealing online CV is archived here.)

Here's what EllaLohan wrote on a YouTube video posted by Senator McCain's campaign: "EllaLohan (4 weeks ago): John McCain plus lobbyist Vicki Iseman equals trouble for Republicans. Just ask the New York Times."

Then EllaLohan popped up elsewhere on YouTube with a similar comment for an anti-McCain video: "EllaLohan (1 month ago): i've heard from a bunch of my d.c. friends that mccain is doing special favors for a female lobbyist, who's returning the favor, if you catch my drift. this is the story that his lawyers are trying to prevent the new york times from writing. he's a crook just like the rest of the politicians."

It seems Ella, at the very least, had an idea what the Times was holding back. The only info found on her YouTube profile is her gender—female—and age—40.

Is she an insider who couldn't resist hinting at what she really knew or Drudge clicker with a keen ability to read between the lines? Or better still a Times employee dissatisfied with the paper's hold on the article? Attempts to reach EllaLohan have not been successful.