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We have followed the post-election theater in Pennsylvania’s Senate race. As the AP recognized three weeks ago, GOP challenger Dave McCormick defeated incumbent Democrat nullity Bob Casey. Yesterday Casey finally conceded the race, but not before the recount began. This is how it stood when Casey pulled the plug:

The concession comes days into a pricey recount that Casey could have waived. He gained just four votes from the first wave of recounts, which were completed on Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon, McCormick had gained seven votes, according to his campaign. The Republican led Casey by roughly 17,000 votes when the recount began.

Casey had a good name that he did nothing to earn and that he tarnished on his way out the door. He owed his good name to his father, Robert Casey, the late two-term governor of Pennsylvania. Bob Casey was junior to him in every way.

Casey senior distinguished himself as the last pro-life Democrat. Casey junior subscribed to the party line in every jot and tittle, including the party’s sacramental view of abortion. As Shakespeare’s most famous character put it, what a falling off was there.

There is more diplomacy than truth in McCormick’s gracious acknowledgment of Casey’s concession. “Senator Bob Casey has dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth,” he said. “Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice.”

By contrast, McCormick’s concluding statement is entirely credible: “I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day.”

McCormick was an outstanding candidate who waged a skillful campaign to unseat Casey. Now he has a contribution to make in the Senate. Although he lagged President Trump’s performance in Pennsylvania, we undoubtedly owe McCormick’s victory to the voters Trump drew to the polls.