Earlier today news broke about GOP nominee John McCain turning down a meeting with Dr. Billy Graham. Apparently, Dr. Graham’s office never initiated this request in the first place. According to Newsmax.com who broke the original story:
On Monday, Larry Ross, a spokesman for Graham, issued a statement to the press confirming that Billy Graham was unaware of any communication between the McCain campaign and his office or his son’s.
“It would be highly unusual and out of character for Mr. Graham to initiate such a meeting, and there has been no contact between the McCain campaign and his office. In fact, Mr. Graham has not met or been in contact with any candidates during the current primary process.
“If he had, it has been his personal policy through the years to avoid partisanship by meeting with representatives from both parties to address spiritual concerns,” Ross stated.
Graham’s spokesman also noted that Jacobs’ offer for a meeting was made independent of Graham, as the initial Newsmax report made clear.
“Upon further inquiry I understand that two people unaffiliated with either Billy or Franklin Graham apparently independently, without any knowledge by the [Billy Graham Evangelistic Association], tried to broker a meeting between Mr. McCain and the evangelist. Apparently it was their indirect and unofficial involvement that was declined.”