People Who Need a Beating: Ashley Todd Edition

I've stayed away from this story, in an effort to be respectful. For those who hadn't heard, Ashley Todd is a volunteer for the McCain/Palin campaign that claimed she was taking money out of an ATM in Pittsburgh, when she was mugged by a big scary black man, who then proceeded to scratch a "B" into her face and exhort her to vote Obama. The story seemed too weird from the get-go. In addition to there being no corroborating surveillance footage at the ATM, the "B" was backwards (as if some simpleton had done it to herself in the mirror). Today, it's being reported that the "victim," Ashley Todd, has recanted her story. Obviously, this was a disgusting attempt to stoke racial tensions in western Pennsylvania where, by all accounts, some voters are reluctant to vote for a black man. Pittsburgh police said Todd will face charges. Good.

Update (3:38pm): Matt Yglesias correctly points out that, in line with the McCain camp's general policy of race-baiting, the campaign chose not to remain circumspect about this fishy story, but actively embraced it and used it for political purposes.