This is a very good point. They can't help themselves.
Still, I think COD is pretty tarred. Even a great candidate would have a hard time being the focus of millions upon millions of dollars of attack ads and scorn from the entire media and intellectual establishment.
She's handled herself well. I admire her. O'Donnell is a hell of a lot tougher than me or most people in this country. But political realities are what they are. I don't think she ever had any chance in Delaware. Never did, and don't think anything much has changed.
If the Republicans have an amazing night next week I think she'll still lose by 5. If Republicans just have a good night come election day, she'll lose by 10. I think we will see the latter.
Your point about the media/liberal elite not being able to help themselves is a good one though. These people don't understand the American public, they hate religion and religious people, they look down on regular folks - and yes, even if they were shooting themselves in the foot my guess is your right that they would still keep up with making fun of COD.
The question being ... why are they piling on O'Donnell and not, say, Rossi or Fiorina?
That's obvious, even if her ardent supporters don't want to see it: it's because O'Donnell is an easy mark and the others are not. She doesn't come across like a Senator -- she's soft; and she seems shallow, hesitant, and very, very young.
Is that fair? No ... but it's real life in the media-dominated political world.