By Matthew Schofield, Kansas City Star editorial columnist

In case you'd been losing sleep wondering just who would get Sen. John McCain's support in the race for Sen. Sam Brownback's seat in Kansas when he steps down in 2010, the answer is in:

U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran.

He, of course, just nipped Rep. Todd Tiahrt to it, and just in time, too. In case you'd forgotten, the presidential election cycle ended a full, well, not quite full, 11 months ago.

It's back to politics time, baby.

Now, exactly why Sen. McCain, the GOP presidential candidate in 2008 (in case you'd forgotten, it was so long ago) would get his props in this early is up for debate.

Does a McCain endorsement seal the race for Moran? Is McCain's old running partner, Sarah Palin, getting ready with a Facebook blast to prop up Tiahrt?

Or am I missing something, and is it de rigueur for the losing presidential candidate to toss out the first endorsement of the next election cycle?

For the record, McCain (adding to the excitment) noted that he approves of Moran's fiscal responsibility.