In a clear sign they are worried about Maryland's Senate seat, long thought safe for Democrats since the last reelection of liberal Republican Charles Mathias in 1980, national Democrats are preparing a earlier ad buy designed to counter Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele's rise to even in the polls against Democratic Rep. Ben Cardin in the race to fill the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Paul Sarbanes. Jon Ward of the Washington Times reports:

Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele's assertive campaign for U.S. Senate since the Sept. 12 primary has prompted national Democrats to start running attack ads sooner than they had planned.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee originally bought $1 million worth of TV time for the two weeks leading up to the Nov. 7 general election, then decided to start running ads Tuesday, according to the Steele campaign.

"This is a clear indication of the national Democratic Party bosses' scramble to maintain control over Maryland," said Michael Leavitt, campaign manager for Mr. Steele, a Republican.

Phil Singer, a spokesman for the Democratic committee did not return phone calls, but has said he will not comment on strategic decisions in the campaign for Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, who defeated Kweisi Mfume in the Democratic primary.

Read the entire story at the link above.

When the DSCC has to rush unplanned help into a dark blue state like Maryland, and there is talk of replacing the Democratic Senate candidate in New Jersey only six weeks before the election, you begin to realize the "landslide" some Democrats have been anticipating all year probably isn't about to materialize outside of their imaginative dream worlds. If either of those seats or the Minnesota open seat falls to Republicans, any remote chance of a Democratic takeover of the Senate becomes only the wisp of a pipe dream past.

Steele represents the Democratic nightmare: moderate/liberal Republican blacks. If that were to become a measurable constituency, as it was in the 1940s and '50s, it could spell the end of the Democratic Party itself.

Steele has been reaching across the aisle to gain endorsements from many moderate black Democrats. Some of them did so, no doubt, in reaction to their perception of the deck being stacked against Mfume in the Democratic Primary; some seek to demonstrate that Democrats can no longer take the black vote for granted. Of course, some, perhaps most, simply believe Steele is the better candidate. But whatever the reasons for black Democrats supporting Steele, their loss is one the Democratic Party can ill afford.

And if it can't stand their loss in dark blue Maryland, what about the rest of the country? How many House and Senate seats, how many Governorships, would Democrats win if Republicans captured even 25% of the black vote?

If this year is such a "Democratic tidal wave," why are they being forced onto the defensive on what is clearly their "home court?"

UPDATE 12:41 p.m.: Edited for clarity, and to add that the latest Potomac Inc. poll gives Cardin an 11-point lead. Obviously, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee isn't buying that, or they wouldn't be diverting resources from other races to this one, and breaking the schedule in doing it.