Anyone wishing to scroll down a bit might get the impression from my posts over the past couple weeks that I am a bit obsessed with the Steele Senate race in Maryland. "Obsessed" is a very strong word. I will absolutely admit to being excited and extremely optimistic about Michael Steele's chances. Okay, I am a little obsessed about it. Some still show the race leaning Democratic, but I have a gut feel about this one. I think he is going to win, and that prospect is really exciting, but even if he doesn't, much has been achieved through his campaign.

One thing is that a very able politician has gained invaluable experience on the national stage, and has done so while maintaining his good reputation, as well as a good favorability rating. He has the look of a political star about him. If Steele does not win this time around, I believe he will be back and will eventually sit in the U.S. Senate (or a higher office). Just for the record, though, I really do think he is going to win next week.

What is more important than Steele's personal political fortunes, though, is what his campaign has done for Republicans in Maryland and for black voters who have in the past felt they were taken for granted by the Democrats. This Washington Times editorial makes the case.

In their primary, Maryland Democrats could choose between Mr. Cardin and Kweisi Mfume, the former chairman of the NAACP. But the Democratic leadership wanted another Paul Sarbanes, and Mr. Mfume was perceived as too much a maverick. So the Democratic big-wigs threw their support behind ("hand-picked"?) Mr. Cardin, despite warnings from Maryland's blacks not to take them for granted.

This just backfired, big time. "The [Democratic] Party acts as though when they want our opinion, they'll give it to us," said former Prince George's County Executive Wayne Curry, standing alongside five fellow black Democrats on the county council. "It's not going to be like that any more."

Council member Samuel Dean's comments are to the point as well. "We have been Democrats, [but] when the party has an opportunity to do something to show that their base is recognized, appreciated and acknowledged, they don't."

A new poll suggests that maybe just enough Maryland black voters are thinking this, too. About 25 percent of black voters registered as Democrats are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the Maryland Democratic Party's inclusion, or lack thereof, of black candidates. This is significant because Mr. Steele needs about 25 percent to 30 percent of the black vote to win.

If we take Mr. Curry and his fellow Democrats at their word that their endorsement of Mr. Steele marks the end of unquestioning allegiance to a single party, the dynamics of Maryland politics has changed remarkably -- and for the better.