The day after the story of a possible John McCain affair with Vicki Iseman broke in The New York Times, the name "Huma Abedin" appeared high in Google Trends, a system for tracking popular or buzzy search terms. Abedin, a Chief of Staff for Hillary Rodham Clinton was rumored to be having a homosexual affair with the candidate. It has been suggested that the two terms showing up simultaneously in Google Trends was not a coincidence, but an intentional distraction or counterpoint from the Iseman story.

• Topix.net: Hillary Google Trends Lesbian Scandal
• Google News: Hillary Google Trends Lesbian Scandal

• Big Head DC: Huma Abedin: 'Volcanic' on Google (February 21, 2008)
  • The Hillary lesbian rumors have been popping up online for several months. Big Head DC is posing the question of why interest would suddenly have surged after the announcement of the possible McCain-Iseman love affair.
• TimesOnline: "Snarls, smears and innuendo for Hillary Clinton as attack dogs get ready for the fray" (November 22, 2007)
• Crush Liberalism: NYT hit piece on McCain, silent on Huma (February 21, 2008)
• Atlas Shrugs: Hillary's Lesbian Affair with Muslim Aide? (November 1, 2007)
• Valleywag: Google provides "innovation" to the GOP, hides head in shame (February 18, 2008)
• ITWriting: Google the "official innovation provider" for Republican convention (February 19, 2008)
• Village Voice: Can You Top This? (July 31, 2007)
• The New York Observer: Hillary's Mystery Woman: Who Is Huma? (April 1, 2007)
• Big Head DC: Huma Abedin category
• Google Blog Search: Hillary Google Trends Lesbian Scandal