So Rep. Jeff Flake, one of the instigators of the Republican House leadership election, plans to announce his support of Rep. John Shadegg on Tuesday.

Shadegg continues to lag in numbers, but remains critical to the fortunes of all involved in the campaign to replace Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

With almost daily embarrassments trickling out about him, Rep. Roy Blunt is increasingly looking like damaged goods.

Meanwhile, Rep. John Boehner has run an efficient campaign, saying all the right things and embracing Shadegg’s candidacy as though he were a fraternity rush chairman welcoming a new charge. Perhaps that’s hitting a bit too close to home for Boehner, but he deserves credit for surviving this far into the race without a major shoe dropping.

Before the election began, Boehner was assuring his supporters that his was a clean record. It appears that that may be the case, unless the Washington Post and New York Times are sitting on damaging material, hoping to spring it at a more embarrassing moment.