First, the publication took the position that the e-mail pitch mistakenly went out under the guise of a Red Eye editorial product, when in fact it was a paid political advertisement.
The email was a very sneaky political advertisement according to the publication.  
mnli hypothesis: The email was a very sneaky political advertisement according to the publication.   premise: First, the publication took the position that the e-mail pitch mistakenly went out under the guise of a Red Eye editorial product, when in fact it was a paid political advertisement.