Just a P.S. (I was running out the door earlier): Steele will not be a Phil Gramm conservative, but that’s ok. I’m preparing to cringe now and again when I really disagree with him. But it will be worth having him in the Senate for myriad reasons.

A D.C. area friend cautions though. Cardin was awful in the debate this morning, but… “Cardin is stiff and boring (but Maryland seems to like that in their Senators), and was too easily provoked. Cardin was clearly outmatched in the debate, but I don’t know how that will all play over there.”