By: A Florida newspaper is asking John McCain's campaign why a black reporter assigned to cover a rally was singled out by security and told to leave a backstage area.
Tallahassee Democrat reporter Stephen Price was among four local journalists at a Panama City rally last week when a Secret Service agent approached. The agent asked Price if he was part of the national media traveling with McCain. Price said no, and the Secret Service agent told him to leave.
Price pointed out that other local reporters were in the same area. He was still told to leave. The other reporters were white.
The McCain campaign says it's asked the Secret Service to look into the matter. A McCain spokesman says campaign personnel were not involved.
A Secret Service spokesman says two other Florida reporters were removed along with Price. He says any other reporters who weren't with the national press should have been removed, too, and that race played no role.
UPDATE:
The Tallahassee paper reports on Wednesday: "Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign has apologized for a Friday incident that denied access to a Tallahassee Democrat reporter.
"Senior Writer Stephen Price, asked to leave an area restricted to national reporters while other state reporters remained, got a personal apology from McCain's campaign Tuesday evening. Price was the lone black reporter among the media in the area at a Panama City rally on Friday.
"McCain spokesman Brian Rogers called Price Tuesday evening and apologized on behalf of the campaign. Rogers said "We feel terrible about it," according to Price.
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