noted [0] before, it really does look like Matthews is seriously exploring the possibility of a run. Which raises an interesting issue. Mika might want him to simultaneously seek a Senate seat while serving as Hardball host, but how much longer can he continue to do both? At what point does Matthews' journalistic status become hopelessly jumbled by his political ambitions?

I've already noted [0]how Matthews buttered up PA Gov. Ed Rendell during a recent Hardball appearance. It later emerged that Matthews had previously approached Rendell looking for help in recruiting a campaign team. On last night's Hardball, Matthews assembled a panel of Pennnsylvania Dem county chairmen to kibitz the primary. Justifiable, but how convenient for Chris, who ended the segment with an anything-but-Hardball send-off, telling the pols what "a great honor" it had been to have them on the show.