It's going to be an ongoing up-and-down situation for as far ahead as the eye can see. None of it is good for DeLay.

His first priority is to get the base behind him, even if that produces a nominee that is really fought over in the Senate and possibly defeated.

He was one of the white Democrats who started out as one of the conventional segregationists and then made the transition to biracial politics.

A lot of money was spent in 2004 to produce the results that gave the Republicans their big majority in the Texas delegation. These districts have been drawn to elect either Democrats or Republicans.

It deprives the Republicans of a very experienced vote-counter, someone who's been very successful securing victories with a very thin majority.

For those contemplating a presidential effort, this helps to get out in front of that issue three years before the first primaries, so they are on record and not waiting until the primaries to change. That goes for others who are not running for president as well.