Who was the source for Harry Reid's comments about Obama that have caused such a kerfuffle? Harry Reid. To Heilemann and Halperin, according to Mike "Cheney spokesman" Allen. The question is: did Reid say it on background or off-the-record? John Heilemann (an old friend) said the following on GMA this morning:
“We did no off-the-record interviews and we have burned no sources with this book.”
In the book, John and Mark write:
“All of our interviews from those with junior staffers to those with the candidates themselves were conducted on a deep background’ basis, which means we agreed not to identify the subjects as sources in any way.”
So I'm confused. Did this anecdote come from Reid on deep background? Or from someone else? Heilemann and Halperin won't say - on the record. Clear now?