Back on September 28, I said I had heard a rumor that Sam Brownback’s campaign is “not long for this world.”

Dow Jones says he’s out Friday. MSNBC confirms.

As late as Monday, he had met with the Boston Globe’s editors, mentioned he would be introducing a resolution apologizing for slavery, and said “we’re trying some different plays” with his campaign.

Ambinder guesses he’ll endorse McCain or Giuliani. I’d bet heavily against Giuliani. (A pro-choicer? Really? No way.) McCain, though, is on the same page as Brownback on immigration.

There were numerous signs of trouble, in retrospect. The most recent news item on his campaign site is “Brownback: Why I’m Campaigning with a Democrat,” posted last Tuesday.

UPDATE: Hmmm. McCain is supporting Brownback’s slavery apology resolution as well.

The other thing is, I don’t know if I can see Brownback endorsing Romney after going after him pretty darn harshly throughout the campaign. Talk about your awkward moments: “After calling this man an unreliable flip-flopper for the past ten months, I have suddenly found a consistent, admirable, principled side to him…”

By the way – with Brownback no longer at the debates, it’s time for organizers to look hard and skeptically at their invitations to Tom Tancredo and (sigh) Duncan Hunter. Ron Paul is at least raising bucketfuls of cash.

In the bad timing award for the day, I would note that about three hours ago, ABC News posted a story entitled, “Get To Know Sen. Sam Brownback.” Somehow, that task seems less pressing than it did a little earlier this morning. This evening Charlie Gibson’s interview with Brownback is slated to run. Hmm. Different spin on that interview now.