The attacks from the usually mild-mannered Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, have hit the Romney campaign hard. His campaign is already on the rocks and it’s losing ground against third party candidates. But, where did Reid get his information?

• Bain Investor – The original claim from Reid was that a person invested at Bain Capital called Reid’s office with the story. This could be made up, or it could be a false plant put out in order to discredit either Romney or Reid.
• McCain Campaign Staff – Romney turned over financial documents to the McCain campaign in 2008 in the attempt to be the Senator from Arizona’s Vice Presidential Pick. Those documents could demonstrate that Reid’s claims are correct.




• Rogue IRS Agent – There is always the possibility of someone working for the Internal Revenue Service violating their trust in turning over the information. However, this is unlikely due to Reid’s position being threatened by him even talking to such a rogue agent.
• Anonymous – The hacking collective has demonstrated the ability to access sensitive data, even from government sources. Even before this current accusation arose, there have been those who say that the group has been looking for such information, and if one of them has located it, the passing of it to a “concerned citizen” is their typical M.O.
• Romney Campaign – It is an old tactic from Karl Rove’s dirty trick playbook is to purposefully plant information, such as the documents “leaked” to CBS News about Bush’s National Guard service. It is quite possible that this is the same tactic, offering a carrot out to see who would grab it.
• LDS Church – Reid is the most senior member of the Latter Day Saints religion in government. Part of the Church includes tithings, which in some reports involves the turning over of tax documents to confirm the amounts tithed to the Church. It is theoretical that the Nevada Senator abused his positon in order to gain access to these documents

So, is this an elaborate trap which the normally astute Reid fell for? Not likely. Senator Reid did not gain his position by being a nice guy, nor by playing fair. Reid came to politics with an honor streak, turning down a bribe from LaToya Jackson’s former manager and ex-husband Jack Gordon, who later was suspected in a bomb placed on Reid’s family car. He’s dealt with the potential for illicit activity always on a straight and narrow, which is interesting considering he is from a state well known for corruption.

If Reid says that he’d gotten the information from a Bain investor, it is likely to be the case. Deception is not something found in his character. If it were any other person on the Hill, we could be suspect. From the man who brought in the FBI over a matter of less than the price of a used car, it casts doubts on those who call it suspect.

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