With Filings and Reports out of the way, the McCains can relax and entertain their guests

or so it would seem…

Leading up to a weekend “grilling” party at the McCains’ Arizona home, attended by, several prominent GOP (and one notable Democrat) leaders, the McCain campaign released both medical and financial reports.

Senator McCain released a 1100+ page medical report. The team of doctors report that McCain is “in excellent health and displays extraordinary energy…”

Also on Friday, Cindy McCain released her 2006 Income Tax Returns - after stating that she would never do so (as a protection for her children). The returns show that Mrs. McCain, who files separately from the Senator, earned $6 million and paid some $1.7M in taxes. Reportedly, Mrs. McCain filed an extension for her 2007 returns, but will release those returns once filed.

The timing of the release(s) is causing a few pundits (namely MSNBCers) to raise some question. The Friday before a holiday weekend is, generally, not a big news day – people, and reporters, are heading out for vacations and preoccupied with matters other than a candidate’s blood pressure and/or charitable donations.

Also, the information may have been an attempt to diffuse the speculation that the grouping of political leaders invited to visit with Senator McCain this weekend is really a “grilling” session to determine McCain’s running mate.

Invitees to the “party” include:

Florida Governor, Charlie Crist;

Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal;

Former Presidential Candidate, Mitt Romney;

Senator Joe Lieberman;

Senator Lindsey Graham;

Also invited (reportedly) but could not attend:

Mike Huckabee; and,

Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty.