ABC News is reporting that the McCain campaign is using stall tactics in order to delay the release of the report, currently slated to be handed down at the end of October.

Is the McCain campaign afraid of an 'October surprise' involving vice-presidential pick Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska?

The Alaska state senator running an investigation of Gov. Palin says the McCain campaign is using stall tactics to prevent him from releasing his final report by Oct. 31, four days before the November election.

I don't know about you, but the number one quality I look for in my elected leaders is their ability to abuse power and obstruct investigations. It would be too much of a radical departure from the Bush years otherwise.

Palin's attorney has decided to pursue a rather bizarre line of defense, arguing against the probe on the following grounds:

"Our concern is that Hollis French [the Anchorage Democrat and former state prosecutor who is project director for the legislative investigation] turns into Ken Starr and uses public money to pursue a political vendetta rather than truly pursue an honest inquiry into an alleged ethics issue," Van Flein said in an interview.

You heard right: Palin's attorney is admitting that Ken Starr's investigation into former President Clinton wasn't an honest inquiry, but rather a politically-motivated vendetta. I certainly have sympathy for the victims of poltically-motivated vendettas, but in this case Sarah Palin isn't the victim; the upstanding public safety commissioner she fired, Walt Monegan, is.

Josh has a great breakdown of the scandal in case anyone needs refreshing.