CHRISTINE, YOU KNOW WE ALWAYS LOVED YA – AT 2:57 P.M. ET:  The Republican establishment today bit its lip, arrested its pride, and announced support for Christine O'Donnell, the insurgent who won the GOP Senate nomination in Delaware:

In a clear sign of the grassroots pressure on Republican leaders, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn just put out a statement embracing Christine O'Donnell -- a dramatic contrast with his group's curt response last night -- and writing her a big check.

It's a remarkable reversal, and a vivid illustration that the base is in charge and has the leadership running scared.

The NRSC is sending O'Donnell a check for $42,000, the maximum possible under current rules.  Press reports say that contributions are pouring in from other sources – so many contributions that the O'Donnell website crashed.

We didn't support Christine O'Donnell.  We can't deny our doubts about her.  But we sure hope she wins in November.

September 15, 2010