Via Drudge comes this “developing” story:

A frantic behind-the-scenes drama is unfolding around Sen. John Kerry and his quest to lockup the Democratic nomination for president, the Drudge Report can reveal.
Intrigue surrounds a woman who recently fled the country, reportedly at the prodding of Kerry, the Drudge Report has learned.
A serious investigation of the woman and the nature of her relationship with Sen. John Kerry has been underway at TIME magazine, ABC News, the Washington Post, The Hill and the Associated Press, where the woman in question once worked.
A close friend of the woman first approached a reporter late last year claiming fantastic stories — stories that now threaten to turn the race for the presidency on its head!
In an off-the-record conversation with a dozen reporters earlier this week, General Wesley Clark plainly stated: “Kerry will implode over an intern issue.” [Three reporters in attendance confirm Clark made the startling comments.]
The Kerry commotion is why Howard Dean has turned increasingly aggressive against Kerry in recent days, and is the key reason why Dean reversed his decision to drop out of the race after Wisconsin, top campaign sources tell the Drudge Report.

I’m beginning to suspect that interns are to the Hill what Domino’s Pizza is to frat parties.

UPDATE (one of many, no doubt): WorldNetDaily is developing the story as well, but it’s worth pointing out that their story primarily quotes… the National Enquirer. Then again, there’s this:

Commenting on the Drudge story, Craig Crawford of the Congressional Quarterly said the allegation is something Wesley Clark campaign secretary and former Al Gore adviser Chris Lahane “has shopped around for a long time.

“It was one reason the Gore vetters in 2000 shied away from Kerry as a running mate choice,” Crawford said.
Gore’s staffers concluded the news wasn’t bad enough to disqualify the Massachusetts senator, he continued, “except for the fact that they couldn’t risk it as they were trying so hard to distance themselves from Clinton’s personal failings.”

UPDATE: Tom Paine thinks the story is timed to offset the focus on Bush’s military service history.

UPDATE: Here’s the Boston Herald story mentioned by World Net Daily (see Update #1). John Kerry – who reminds me of the basset hound in Warner Bros. Looney Tunes – actually did date Morgan Fairchild and Michelle Phillips. And they don’t like him at all.