Tim Russert on Meet the Press (courtesy of The Daily Howler : “Governor Rendell, these were the headlines in the New York Daily News and across the country on Saturday. Here it is, the ‘109 Million-Dollar Couple: Bill and Hill make more than $15 million a year since leaving the White House.’ Fifteen million dollars a year—$109 million in seven years. How is that going to play in Lancaster, Altoona, Erie, PA?”

As opposed to what, McCain being married to a woman worth $100 million? So far, Russert hasn’t raised that question.

But a running, bizarre theme in election coverage is that Democrats have too much money. In 2004, a New York Times article, for instance, showed Kerry—windsurfing at an upscale resort—with Bush—a wealthy Yale graduate from a wealthy family—spending time on his farm.

Likewise, the media have taken multiple shots at Edwards for having a lot of money and a big house. The McCains, according to some estimates, have three times the money and a humongous house, but a lot of campaign coverage just disappears those little details.

My point is not that McCain should be ashamed of his wealth, only that if great wealth is a matter of interest in the presidential campaign, the wealth of both sides deserves the same scrutiny.

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