Big Head DC has received credible information indicating that the now infamous Sen. Barack Obama picture, which shows him wearing traditional Somali garb in 2006, was posted on at least one conservative Web site several hours before Matt Drudge highlighted the photo. It seems highly likely that the photo was forwarded to Drudge from one of the conservative Web site writers, or he saw it on his own, and then he posted a story regarding the picture. To seal the story, he may have decided to falsely claim that the Sen. Hillary Clinton campaign had ties to the picture’s distribution.

No Clinton campaign staffers have taken credit for spreading the photo, which, as Big Head DC noted today, was initially published in August 2006 on an African news Web site.

Drudge has not responded to requests for comment.