According to the Washington Post (found via TechRepublican) John McCain reached out to non-conservative bloggers yesterday inviting them on a conference call following a major address yesterday.

The strategy was in full swing yesterday when Mr. McCain invited non-conservative bloggers to join his regular blogger conference call, just hours after he delivered a major speech previewing his war strategy and other priorities for a first presidential term.

It already has started a war among liberal bloggers over how to react to Mr. McCain’s overture.

Mr. McCain’s campaign said the Web outreach is a logical extension of an attempt to reach voters beyond his base. It also builds on his successful use of conference calls with conservative bloggers during the Republican primary, which blunted many of the harshest criticisms of the senator.

I honestly have to say this is a wonderful strategy and the only complaint I have is that THEY NEVER INVITE ME on these things. Not that I am a liberal blogger, just that I want endless attention from people. SWEET endless attention. (Self promotion rant end)

Anyway, just as I have constantly said Democrats should be reaching out to FOX News, which they finally have, Republicans need to reach out to bloggers and those formulating opinion online regardless of which side of the isle they are on. Access is often one of the easiest ways to create good will. Heck it works for normal reporters and though it won’t stop liberal bloggers from spewing bile against the Republicans, over time it will at least might help them spew better informed (read your point of view) bile online.