If you’ve been reading The Corner, or TKS, or The Note, or Wonkette, or The Plank, you know that the buzz in Washington today has been all about Dana Milbank’s Washington Post column, in which an anonymous GOP Senate candidate laments the drag that Bush’s unpopularity has on his candidacy. It’s pretty obvious that the candidate is Maryland’s Michael Steele (ABC is apparently reporting as much). I called Steele’s campaign to get a confirmation or denial; they haven’t called back.

It strikes me as a silly move by Steele. If he wants to distance himself from Bush, he should say this stuff on the record. If he doesn’t, he should keep his mouth shut. Apparently he was having dinner at Charlie Palmer’s with Milbank and a bunch of other reporters, so if he actually thought that no one would figure out he was the candidate in question he’s amazingly naive. I’m afraid this isn’t the first time my faith in Steele’s strength as a candidate has been shaken.