Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R), who is running for the United States Senate, says that, if elected, he will bring “the ‘hood” to the U.S. Senate. Wow, this is REALLY playing the race card.

Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele yesterday said his U.S. Senate campaign aims to bring “the ‘hood” with him to Capitol Hill.

“The ‘hood is going to show up on the Hill,” said Mr. Steele, a black Republican. “That is what this campaign is all about, and that scares some people when I say stuff like that — on both sides of the aisle, God bless them.”

He said he delivered a similar message to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican supporting Mr. Steele’s candidacy.

“I told him, ‘Be careful what you wish for — a brother shows up, I bring people,’?” Mr. Steele said to about 70 supporters at the opening of his state campaign headquarters in Temple Hills. “You have all had one of those picnics, right?”

Michael Steele is going to lose this race, but if he keeps making comments like this, at least we will be able to enjoy his long-shot candidacy. Steele will likely face either Kweisi Mfume or Rep. Ben Cardin, depending on who wins the September primary.