Cheney’s friends and political allies say it’s a temporary condition, brought on by the traumatic – and publicly unreported – family events that prompted her to exit the Senate race. Contrary to the perception in Washington that Cheney was essentially laughed out of politics thanks to her rocky Senate bid, no one close to the candidate or her family mistakes Cheney’s present silence for a long-term departure from the electoral arena.

Quietly, over the last few weeks, Cheney and other members of her family have taken steps to tend to her small but powerful political circle. The former candidate has reached out to major contributors – in Wyoming and elsewhere – to express her appreciation. Lynne Cheney, the former second lady of the United States, has also made a few calls of her own…

If the Senate race famously took a toll on the Cheney family – Liz Cheney’s sister, Mary Cheney, disavowed her sister’s campaign because of its stance on gay marriage – the larger community of operatives and donors in Cheney-world remains very much intact. The sense of destiny that appeared to propel her candidacy, and that plainly irritated Republican Party leaders in Washington, has not faded within the circle of close Cheney allies.