This is a surprise: the Massachusetts Democratic Party has filed a legal challenge to Mitt Romney's candidacy. I would have expected the state's Dems to be more subtle than this. Instead, the challenge smacks of desperation. I would have rather they at least wait a while and seen how the latest revelations affected Romney's standing in the polls. Romney's tortured explanations and outright lies could have easily damaged the candidate. Instead, he will probably garner sympathy.

The Democrats' action is especially surpirsing considering that state law isn't clear on whether they will prevail or not. MA has historically defined "residency" rather loosely. And the state's newspapers have penned editorials urging a liberal interpretation of Romney's residency status. In the best of circumstances, the Dems chances of success are iffy.

If Romney is knocked off on this "technicality", they might as well hand the keys to the governor's mansion to the eventual Democratic nominee. But at what price? A tainted victory a-la Pres. Bush?