The ostensible topic was the NFL fantasy-league draft that members of the Today show crew recently conducted.  But in sharing her strategy for making draft picks, Campbell Brown might have unintentionally offered hope to Republicans looking nervously to November and beyond.

Campbell admitted to weekend co-host Lester Holt that she knows little about football.  So in making her picks, Brown said she simply adopted this strategy: "I picked the ones who looked tough and mean."

When undecided voters go to the polls, might they not adopt the same approach in putting together America's anti-terror team?  George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, et. all might not be to everyone's taste. But few would deny they're a pretty tough bunch.

Will Americans want to undercut their terror-fighting efforts by installing a team led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid? Judging by the Roethlisberger jersey she's wearing, it looks like Campbell's a budding Steelers fan.  I don't know about Campbell, but I'd never confuse Searchlight Harry Reid with this guy!

Mark Finkelstein lives in the liberal haven of Ithaca, NY, where he hosts the award-winning, web-casted TV show Right Angle.  Contact him at mark@gunhill.net