Candidate X says it was all all in fun

Republican Senate candidate Michael Steele on Wednesday called President Bush his "homeboy," reversed course on having the president campaign for him and said he was joking when he described his Republican affiliation as a scarlet letter.

I wonder if it had anything to do with this?

At the White House, Bush spokesman Tony Snow said the president understands what politics is about, "and he wants Michael Steele to be elected as senator."

Snow declined to say how the president responded when told what Steele had said. "I could, but I won't," Snow said. But he remarked dryly, "I think the comments have come to his attention."

Looks to me like now that it's become such an issue, Steele will have to allow Bush to campaign for him and Bush will have to do it in order to save face. The whole off the record remarks in the first place was ridiculous but it would be pretty funny if Steele ulimately loses because he was forced to hitch his star to Bush as a result of this ill-advised "joke."