Washington state Democrats are practically licking their chops at the prospect of John McCain campaigning in the state any time soon.

They pretend otherwise. In a press release Tuesday, State Chairman Dwight Pelz suggested McCain "steer clear" of Washington because of questions about ties that members of the likely GOP nominee's campaign staff have to Airbus manufacturer EADS.

There's also that letter McCain sent to Defense Secretary Robert Gates that subsidies EADS gets for Airbus not be held against the combined Northrop-EADS bid for a tanker.

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