I covered Salazar on the campaign trail last year. He’s no left-winger, but I’d also be shocked if he quit the Democratic Party or even cooperated extensively with Republicans. This guy isn’t the next Zell or anything close to it. I was astonished to hear him speak repeatedly in his stump speech about fighting “the forces of evil.” He wasn’t talking about Osama bin Laden, but Karl Rove. It was creepy stuff, and if a Republican ever said such a thing about Democrats he’d be branded a rabid McCarthyite. So don’t count on this guy joining what he clearly considers the Dark Side.