''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' correspondents Glenn Simpson and Mary Jacoby reported a consultant to [[John McCain]] hired a public-relations firm to improve the American image of a [[Ukrainian]] political party backed by Russian leader [[Vladimir Putin]], according to documents filed with the Justice Department. The lobbying firm of Davis Manafort Inc. arranged through an affiliate for the public-relations firm's work in the spring of 2008, at the same time Davis Manafort was being paid by McCain's presidential campaign. The firm is co-owned by lobbyist Rick Davis, manager of Sen. McCain's presidential campaign, and Republican strategist [[Paul Manafort]].