Ossoff picks up Flake endorsement in Georgia Senate race

Jeff Flake endorsing Jon Ossoff is not exactly a lightning bolt from a clear sky. Flake made his entire post-Senate career out of being the Republican quoted approvingly in liberal media, and he's been doing that bit since roughly the moment he decided not to seek reelection in 2018 because he couldn't win a GOP primary. So this isn't some agonized crossing of the aisle. It's a guy returning to his natural habitat.

What's actually worth noting is the language he used. "Character matters" and "takes the institution seriously" is the kind of thing that sounds noble in isolation but tells you nothing about Ossoff's record on spending, energy policy, or the border, all of which matter a great deal more to Georgia voters than whether a senator gives off the right vibes at a think tank panel. Flake isn't rating Ossoff's votes. He's rating his tone. That's a fine hobby for a former senator with a book to sell, but it's a thin basis for anyone actually living under the policies Ossoff has helped pass.

Democrats will milk this endorsement for exactly what it's worth in a swing state, which is a headline suggesting bipartisan approval. Voters should read past the headline. Jeff Flake left elected office because Arizona Republicans didn't want what he was selling. There's no reason Georgia should assume it wants it either.