Kathryn Jean Lopez writes today at NRO about the pronouncement from Chris Matthews that Christine O'Donnell "beats out Carly Fiorina in the likability department."   Like me, Lopez wonders about that and further questions just what the excitable Mr. Matthews (and his leg), means by "likable." 

Perhaps Matthews is drawn to people who, like himself, demonstrate a kind of perky imprudence and a vainglorious desire for attention?  Or, perhaps, Matthews--ever the partisan--enjoys a Republican woman who knows her place is in "noble" defeat. 

But Lopez and I are rather enjoying the spectacle of a perfectly rational Republican woman who is running a solidly conservative political campaign to good effect (in California!)--and who, while not shrinking at all from the social issues--is also not using them as an excuse to avoid talking about the things that are both more pressing to voters and more difficult for many other candidates to understand.  In other words, Carly Fiorina is not the kind of Republican woman that Chris Matthews or others like him can easily paint as a throwback and airhead.  I'll bet he doesn't like her.  She's going to put him to work.