Revenge of the Nerds: Newsom Flak Under Fire

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's press spokesman, Peter Ragone, has been caught in a "nerd attack." The tough-talking Ragone has worked for some spectacular losers - Andrew Cuomo's bid for New York governor, the national Democratic Party during the Florida recount, and former Gov. Gray Davis during the 2003 recall. But he's found a winner in Newsom.

Now, Ragone is being swarmed. SFist, a blogger in San Francisco, has allegedly* exposed him for posting favorable comments about his boss on the website, along with slights about a "sad, sad" TV reporter covering the mayor. Seems Ragone's IP address matched the one from poster "John Nelson."

The "sad" TV reporter then produced a long and detailed hit piece on Ragone and his alleged "dirty tricks." The piece shows Ragone blocking the ABC camera when reporter Dan Noyes tries to interview the mayor. It also includes a reenactment of Ragone "trolling" the Internet to post favorable comments about the mayor and this exchange:

Dan Noyes, ABC7 I-Team: "I'm not the one who's looking like a jerk, Peter."

Peter Ragone: "Yeah, that's right. You are, actually."

Here is a list, from SFist, of the posts under the names "John Nelson" and "Peter Ragone." Including this: "who cares if he makes out with his girlfriend. he is just doing what normal people do." Ragone's denies posting under someone else's name, and says John Nelson is a good friend. "What can I say, we had a nerd attack. I've learned my lesson," he told Matier & Ross.

*UPDATE: Ragone now admits posting for his friend and as his friend.

(Photo: ABC7)