If you're "the Hammer" everything looks like you're nailed

So, last night's reporting understated Delay's action. He's actually resigning and becoming "former Republican Congressman" Tom Delay. Again, just another Republican example of the transition to "former" official before the crap officially hits the fan.

The WaPo has the video of Delay's 3 minute announcement. (running slow right now.)

Also, notice that he's not "spending more time with his family," and that his way off the ticket is to make his permanent residence in Virginia. I'm sorry, but as a Texan, you just don't do that.

But I think the WaPo hits on the real answer to the mystery.

DeLay also is entitled under federal election rules to convert any or all of the remaining funds from his reelection campaign to his legal expenses, whether or not he resigns, is indicted or loses the election. Election lawyers say one advantage of bowing out of the election now is that the campaign cash can be converted to pay legal bills immediately, instead of being drained in the course of a bid to stay in office.

As of Feb. 15, when his campaign filed its most recent report with the Federal Election Commission, DeLay had $1,295,350 on hand. But that was two weeks before the Texas primary in which DeLay bested three Republican rivals to win renomination, and the pot of money available to him now may be considerably less.

UPDATE: Holden at First Draft asks the question I should have thought of, with Delay having posted $100,000 bond to stay out of Texas's jail system, "Can he just up and move to Virginia whenever he pleases?"

WaPo also writes that his three ways off the ticket that allow a replacement Republican candidate are "under Texas law he must either die, be convicted of a felony, or move out of his district to be removed from the November ballot."

Otherwise, the (R) column on the ballot would either contain his name or no name. C'mon, Tommy, just take man's way out, the "convicted of a felony" route.

And why is the resignation effective in May/June? What does he have to do between now and then? What does he gain? Think he'll be taking campaign donations that can be converted to defense fund? I don't know.