Mugshot
In nationalized midterm elections, images matter. (Remember the juxtaposition of Sen. Max Cleland and Osama Bin Laden?)
Republicans in Congress -- even those who love and respect Rep. Tom DeLay -- realize that his appearance before a judge tomorrow in Texas will be accompanied by the standard accoutrements of criminal procedure, including a mug shot.
Even if DeLay is acquitted, it will be hard for Republicans to stomach the mug shot and it will be harder for Democrats not to overuse the picture in campaigns.
So the damage to DeLay's chances are re-assuming the post of majority leader are, in the eyes of even some of his allies, not too high. [MARC AMBINDER]
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