Politico's Dan Steinberg Factor in D.C.

It's no secret that the successful politics web-print hybrid start-up Politico has modeled itself after ESPN, at least in its hyper-intense coverage planning. (And Mike Allen's Playbook -- like the Daily Quickie! But...um...better! Better? Yeah: Better. No! Different! Equally good!)Here's another page from the ESPN playbook:In the same way that ESPN has gone into local markets -- successfully -- Politico announced that it is going "local," by launching coverage of the DC metro area.(Let's call it right now: When ESPN launches ESPNDC.com -- and how could they not? -- they will partner with Politico, in the same way ESPNChicago partnered with Huffington Post.)Anyway, Politico has hired a smart guy named Jim Brady to run the DC spin-off -- he's a good fit, having formerly been the executive editor of WashingtonPost.com.That's why Brady -- of all people -- should know what his very first editorial hire should be:Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post, who has set the gold standard among n...