There are limits to spin. The Illinois Lt. Governor candidate Scott Lee Cohen dropped out of the race this week. It turns out that #1. Cohen has allegedly abused his wife. #2. He pulled a knife on his girlfriend. and #3. She might have been a prostitute.

It might be possible to spin your way out of one or two of these, but three strikes and you’re out still works in many situations.

Cohen’s big problem is that he is completely unknown by the public. So when he is faced with this much negative publicity, there is no way of countering it. In contrast, someone like fellow Democrat Bill Clinton could withstand personal scandals because he had such a huge body of public work and reputation behind him.

Think of it this way-Toyota is likely to survive some bad press, a brand new restaurant that gives al its patrons food poisoning on opening weekend won’t.