The New York Times story about John McCain's relationship with a female lobbyist prompted the Republican Party and his campaign to send out fundraising solicitations, saying money was needed urgently to combat the liberal media.

An e-mail this morning from RNC Chairman Mike Duncan told supporters:

The New York Times has proven once again that the liberal mainstream media will do whatever it takes to put Senator Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama in the White House.

He said “Republicans must fight back against the mainstream media's clear liberal bias -- and we need your help to do it.” He said the money would be used to get the RNC’s message “past the liberal media filter and directly to the voters.”

And at Politico, Jonathan Martin has a fundraising e-mail sent by McCain’s campagin manager, Rick Davis.

"We'll never match the reach of a front-page New York Times article, but with your immediate help today, we'll be able to respond and defend our nominee from the liberal attack machine," Davis concludes, underlining his pitch.