He was taking part in a pancake cook-off, one of those dreadful political events in which candidates try to show they actually know how regular Americans go about their lives. You know the drill. George W. Bush drove a snowplow last week in New Hampshire.
Politicians throw out first pitches at baseball games.
Michael Dukakis once rode in a tank. So there was Mr. Bauer, spatula in hand, smiling and cooking his conservative heart out when he took a step back and, boom, he was gone, off the back of the stage like he just got booted from The Gong Show. Mr. Bauer's slip turned into a full slide right out of the campaign. He was easy to deal with, a great interview, a gracious and articulate pol who knew his issues, was quick on his feet and wasn't afraid to laugh at himself. Many of his views were not in the mainstream, a notion confirmed by voters in two states over the past three weeks.