Though not surprised at the negative press, White House aides had hoped to avoid a deluge of criticism by putting out word of Bowles' and McClarty's actions themselves.
Against this, it must be an early disappointment that the East Londonderry MLA David McClarty felt his pledge to remain independent meant he could not come on board.
Going back as far as the selection conventions, a mix-up with mobile phones led to David McClarty listening to his answer phone and hearing an opponent label him a "spent force".