let's go to jon ralston. urnalist who got this tape from the other tea party candidate. and jon, every time we talk about this race we think it can't get any more weird or strange. so she tries to talk mr. ashjian out of the race. he not only says no but he records the conversation. and i will say this clearly so everyone at home understands. you had refused to disclose your sourcing, but then he acknowledged that he gave you the tape? >> yeah. he acknowledged to cnn, i understand, that he recorded the conversation. which of course no one in the room knew he was doing. there were three others there. i don't think he ever had any intention of getting out of the race. he said all he wanted was a public apology from supporters of sharron angle with the tea party express who had essentially said he's an illegitimate tea party candidate. that was his only request. but it's just clear he's just loving the limelight and now he's got national attention, not just local attention. >> he has national attention. and let's

. >> jon ralston, it is great to have an expert here. >>> up next, "hardball" hits the cam train trail. monday it is off to the university of louisville interviewing jack conway. tuesday in new york covering the race. then on wednesday in chicago with alexi giannoulias. and then on thursday in philadelphia with joe sestak. >>> what's with women candidates calling their male opponents to "man up." it seems to be a growing trend this election year. you are watching "hardball" on msnbc. for to 4 devices at once. the duracell mygrid™. simple and smart. it's mygrid™. from duracell. trusted everywhere. aveeno hair shines in real life. new aveeno nourish plus shine with active naturals wheat smooths damaged cuticles for 75% more shine in one use. real shine, for real life. yours. [ female announcer ] new aveeno nourish plus shine. yours. ready to try something new? campbell's has made changes. adding lower sodium sea salt to more soups. plus five dollars in coupons to get you started. campbell's condensed soup. pass it on. campbell's.® it's amazing what soup can do.™ and word is people really

program two weeks ago wrote about a face-off between the candidates, the original headline said, "jon ralston is aghast, still, at reid's inability to control debate." but it was later toned down to say, "will angle win by revising history, slandering reid?" then it happened again. ralston's next day headline was "reid lost the debate to angle." but that was turned to, "thoughts on the reid/angle debate." by the way, could there possibly be any connection this week between the "new york post" endorsing andrew cuomo in the governor's race, and in the same edition, depicting his six debate rivals as clowns? i mean, some of them are clowns, incoming a self-proclaimed madame, but that sure smelled like an effort to help cuomo. the tribune company has been in turmoil, both over its bankruptcy and revelations about a frathouse atmosphere among senior male executives, which last week forced the removal of lee abrams. and this week with randy michaels resigned from the tribune. michaels is being replaced by a former committee. and rachael maddow is usually quite careful when she criticizes republican