Stepping on a Story
To my way of thinking, it's smarter to get out of the way and let one's opponent deal with the incredibly damaging story, rather than distracting voters with an essentially irrelevant narrative (and one that defies credulity -- when, after all, would The NY Times rush to team up with a Republican and her oppo research team?).
In the end, the most effective oppo research is the most discreetly done. If McMahon succeeds in winning the GOP nomination over Rob Simmons, let's hope her general election campaign is just a little more professional.