E-mails: Reed knew tribal money funded anti-gambling campaigns. - This is big folks, maybe as big as it gets on this particular issue.

Jim Galloway of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports today that lobbyist Jack Abramoff sought guidance from political strategist Ralph Reed in disguising Indian tribal money sent to anti-gambling campaigns whose leaders were wary of accepting casino cash, according to documents released Wednesday. The e-mail exchanges also indicate that Reed knew from the beginning of his professional association with Abramoff in 1999 that a Mississippi Indian tribe with casino interests was bankrolling much of his anti-gambling activity in Alabama against a state-sponsored lottery and video poker.

(Almost as a footnote to such a big story, the e-mails indicate that Abramoff also earmarked $10,000 in Choctaw money for Reed's successful 2001 campaign for chairman of the Georgia Republican Party.)
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Folks, this might be as big as it gets. In a 5-23-05 post entitled "And what kind of other tribal enterprises other than gambling did he have in mind, one that sold tomahawks or miniture tepees?," I wrote:

"I think these recent revelations open the door to the possibility that Ralph Reed will decide to call it quits, and come out with some statement to the effect that he tried to offer himself for public service, but is being met with the politics of personal destruction, etc. (something he knows a lot about when someone else is on the hot seat).

"For me and my money's worth, I would like to see him stay in. As I have noted, his getting into this race is the best thing that can happen to the Democratic Party of Georgia."

Is this getting more and more likely? I think the answer has to be yes, especially in light of his earlier repeated denials of this and the impact this race is having on his business according to various reports we have seen.