Just to give a bit of context to the DeLay news below, quite a lot depends on how soon he can get his trial scheduled. To save his career, DeLay doesn't just need to beat this charge, he has to beat it quickly -- almost certainly by the end of next month or very soon after.

That's because in January there are probably going to be leadership elections in the House GOP caucus forced ahead by rebels who want to close the book on the DeLay era.

For the moment, Rep. Blunt (R-MO) is basically keeping the Majority Leader's seat warm for DeLay. If DeLay could get cleared and back in charge quickly he could possibly hold on. If it goes past a certain point, though, he's damaged goods and he'd unable to win back his post even if he were cleared of all charges later in the year.

So can DeLay get to trial anywhere near that quickly?

It's hard for me to see how. The clearest indication I could find was in the Houston Chronicle which said today that the judge in the case "told DeLay's lawyers last month that if he upheld either of the indictments, he would be unable to hold a trial for DeLay before early next year."

That sounds to me like a pretty tight squeeze. And I suspect it means that DeLay is finished. A small symbolic victory in getting the one indictment tossed. But not enough to survive.