The nation's top federal election official told Sen. John McCain yesterday that he cannot immediately withdraw from the presidential public financing system as he had requested, a decision that threatens to dramatically restrict his spending until the general election campaign begins in the fall.

The prospect of being financially hamstrung by the very fundraising system he helped create is the latest in a series of bitter challenges for the presumed GOP nominee, who still faces a fractured conservative coalition as he assumes the mantle of party leadership.

-Matthew Mosk and Glenn Kessler, Washington Post Staff Writers

The McCain-Feingold legislation comes back to bite who? That's right, it bit Mr. McCain right in the rear-end. If I believed in Karma, this would be a perfect example.

Labels: Election 2008, Freedom of Speech