While I have written about the race between Dynasty Democrat John Dingell and cardiologist Rob Steele, there's an interesting new development which may catapult the battle into something other than the local news category.

Bill Clinton is coming to town!

From NBC's John Yang
Is Michigan Rep. John Dingell (D) -- the longest serving member of the House ever -- in trouble?

Despite the anti-incumbent political environment, Michigan's devastated economy, and the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, few thought the race would be competitive. After all, the district -- in the state's southeastern corner stretching from Ann Arbor to the Ohio border -- is so heavily Democratic that John Kerry swamped George W. Bush by 20 percentage points in 2004. And Dingell, who has not won less than 60% of the vote since 1994, has far outspent his underfunded challenger, cardiologist Robert Steele.

Trouble is, no one really knows what's going to happen. That's what makes the Clinton visit so mysterious:

There's little reliable public polling in the race. But, with barely a week to go before Election Day, there are unmistakable signs of concern. One example: Former President Bill Clinton is making a hastily arranged visit to Ann Arbor on Sunday afternoon for a Dingell rally at the University of Michigan. In addition, there are signs that organized labor is shifting resources to the race as Democrats try to hang on to their House majority.

Steele, who says he was motivated to run by health-care reform, is using the slogan: "Time for a change." The seat has been held by someone named John Dingell for 77 years -- first the current congressman's father from 1933 until 1955, and then John Dingell Jr. ever since.

I know. It's just a dream. But Steele is very refreshing. So refreshing, in fact, that I'm seeing his signs on front lawns right here in the People's Republic of Ann Arbor!

Clearly, something had to be done.

So in comes Bill Clinton to save the Dingell Dynasty!

Not that I blame Bubba. After all, Hillary lost to Obama, and while that may have delayed the Clinton dynasty from flowering fully, I'd be willing to bet the man has a soft spot in his heart for dynasties.

If you don't like dynasties and want to help stop the Dingell Dynasty, you can contribute to Rob Steele.

While I couldn't find an official picture for the Ann Arbor occasion, I did find one showing the dynasty lovers taken last year (on Dingell's 19,420th day in office) and I am utterly fascinated by it:

The caption reads:

Congressman Dingell (D-MI) Is Honored As The Longest Serving House Member

WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 10: US Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) (2nd L) and Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) (R) attend as former US President Bill Clinton (L) honors US Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) (2nd R), who on February 11 2009 will set a new record for career service in the US House of Representatives, at the US Capitol on February 10, 2009 in Washington, DC. Dingell was first elected to his seat in 1955, and will set the new record with his 19,420th day.

But clearly the guy loves being a lifer -- so no wonder he's on Life.

As to why Henry Waxman is clearly in focus while Clinton and Dingell are all a blur, there has to be a reason. If there's one thing Life is known for, it's photography, so they must know something.

Perhaps Waxman is hoping to be a Lifer too. But he's only been there for 35 years, so even though he's 71, he's still just a baby dinosaur. To match Dingell, he'd have to make it to at least the year 2030, which of course he might. Sometimes it seems these career politicians with nothing better to do than run for office have cornered the life extension market. (Which really isn't fair, if you believe in concepts like that.)

MORE: Glenn Reynolds points out that THE "D" STANDS FOR "DESPERATE.

This made me realize the title of this post was insufficiently alliterative, because I missed a key "D" word. The title should be "Desperate Dancing with Dynastic Democrat Dinosaurs," and I corrected it.

I hope this has not caused undue confusion.