The donuts are starting to make more sense.

Last month, at the Associated Press meeting with the presidential candidates, Obama was referred to as “Osama” — McCain got a box of donuts from Liz Sidoti and her boss, Ron Fournier. They got the right kind: “Dunkin Donuts with sprinkles.” And, McCain got coffee “with a little cream and a little sugar” the way he likes it, too. Sidoti explained that she and Fournier used to spend a lot of time on the bus with McCain. Jed has the the video.

It was a bizarre, but telling exchange.

Sidoti’s boss, Ron Fournier, AP’s Washington bureau chief, is profiled at Politico today on the new “style” he’s bringing to AP.

Fournier was also involved in another bizarre, yet telling exchange back in April of 2004 — right after Pat Tillman died in Afghanistan.

TPM Muckraker revealed that Fournier and Karl Rove were email pals. Oh, sure, Rove emailed with a lot of reporters. But, how many reporters wrote to Rove “Keep up the fight.” This e-mail was dated April 23, 2004 — right smack in the middle of the presidential campaign.

The Associated Press: In 2004, “Keep up the fight.” In 2008, “Dunkin Donuts with sprinkles.”