By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

How quickly did the Republican National Committee change its spots on the special congressional election in New York? Watch this.

Early Saturday, Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava dropped out, badly trailing in the polls.

Hours later, RNC Chairman Michael Steele said his group had come out fully in support of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.

A few days ago, of course, the official Republican line was that Scozzafava was the best candidate and Hoffman was looked at like a fringe candidate, someone supported by only the ultra-conservatives such as Sarah Palin.

Hoffman, Steele said, is "a candidate who shares Republican principles and will serve the interests of his constituents in Congress by standing in opposition to the liberal policies of President Obama and Speaker Pelosi."

But Scozzafava didn't walk away with nothing.

Steele said that, "by releasing her supporters she has gracefully placed the Party before her own self interest, and for this she deserves enormous credit and respect."

Wow, what a great party prize.