If Orman really pulls this out, especially if, as looks increasingly likely, Republicans take the Senate regardless, Roberts will have engineered one of the most impressive pluck-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory of 21st century American politics so far.
Yeah, the trajectory of this race has been pretty amazing. Let me do a timeline from the eyes of Pat Roberts.
2009-2013: "I'm a lock for re-election even if I get caught with both a live boy and a dead girl."
Early 2014: "Oh, I got a primary challenger. Whatever, he's pretty much a joke. I'm still a lock in both the primary and of course the general."
June-July 2014: "Whoa, this joke is getting momentum. Time to pull out all the stops."
Early August 2014: "Wow, I got held under 50%! Luckily Kansas doesn't have runoffs so I didn't have to ask Democrats to bail me out like my buddy Thad. That was a pretty bad performance for me, but whatever, at least I won, and that's what counts. Man, that primary really took a lot of my energy. Luckily I can go back to my home in DC to rest since I'm now assured re-election."
Late August 2014: "Hmm, my polls aren't looking too good. The bitter Tea Partiers really need to get over that they lost. Whatever, it makes no difference. Kansas is blood red, I'm the incumbent, and Obama is boosting Republicans everywhere. On top of that, my two opponents are splitting the vote, so I'm still assured of victory. I can just enjoy my time here in DC and coast."
Early September 2014: "Chad Taylor dropped out? Oh sh[inks]. No wonder why the RNC has been blowing up my phone while I was at the DC country club. Staffer, book me the soonest flight to Kansas. NOW! Get Kobach and Rove on the line as well, we need to sort this matter out before it gets out of hand."
Present: "The Supreme Court took Taylor off the ballot...god damn it Kobach, what good are you if you can't even rig this election! YOU HAD ONE JOB!! Man, I'm in deep sh**t now..."
To be continued...
