Braun Throwing Election?

Call us crazy, but Braun's recent misstep reeks of a manufactured moment:

• Carol Moseley Braun is in trouble for publicly busting out the kind of insult that Rahm Emanuel only uses in private.
  
  During Sunday afternoon’s debate at Trinity United Church of Christ -- Jeremiah Wright’s old congregation -- Moseley Braun told Patricia Watkins, “the reason you didn’t know where I was for the last 20 years, ’cause you were strung out on crack.”
  
  The crowd hooted. Miguel del Valle and Gery Chico looked mortified. (Emanuel, who refuses to participate in community forums, was absent.) Soon after, Moseley Braun left the sanctuary, fleeing in her SUV.

Braun is a supposedly seasoned political campaigner. There are certain things you don't just say out loud, like open yourself up to a libel suit in front of potential voters.

Depending on the poll you follow, she's either second of third in the rankings. Now she commits a political misstep of immense proportions in front of a live audience? Where are more of these citizens going to decide to cast their votes now?

Did Rahm and Shortshanks just pull the trigger on Carol's suicide vest?