This has been a whirlwind week in the battle for the Senate, underscoring how rapidly the fight for the upper chamber continues to heat up as primaries approach.

Republicans’ disappointing news last Friday morning that a months-long effort to dissuade Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale against running for Senate failed was cushioned later in the day by the news that the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s favored candidate, former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, had gotten the coveted endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

But then any concern about a messy primary completely dissipated Thursday night when Rosendale completely abandoned his Senate bid. Without an endorsement from Trump, and no money flowing his way from those in the Trump universe or from the deep-pocketed Club for Growth that backed him last time, Rosendale quickly saw the writing on the wall. Sheehy now has a clear path to take on Democratic Sen. Jon Tester in a state Trump won by 16 points in 2020.

In a true surprise, Maryland came on the map Friday afternoon after Republicans pulled a coup by convincing

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