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Beyond that, there's not much we actually know -- given that it's only 48 hours since the Gianforte choke-slam on Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs took place.

It remains to be seen how -- and whether -- Republican views on Gianforte change. There's no question that some Gianforte voters actually backed him because of the confrontation. And that the public's attention span is very, very short -- and we tend to think we will never forget things that we forget the following day.

Those two factors are what House Republicans are banking on. That the audio of Gianforte slamming Jacobs to the ground -- and even the possibility that he will be convicted of a misdemeanor -- will recede in peoples' memory as long as the Montana Republican keeps his mouth shut.

Source: GOP candidate 'body slammed' reporter 01:47

They're probably right. Interest in the race is already fading due to the fact that the frontrunner, Gianforte, won. And Montana is out of the way enough -- in terms of the national conversation -- that without a major next development, it won't likely stay in the national news.

For Democrats, the path forward is also uncertain. A victory in Montana would have been evidence of the anti-Trump movement Democrats insist is sweeping the country. And, given that the national party and its aligned super PACs spent millions on the race, they clearly believed it was a winnable proposition. (The Montana secretary of state's office also says that as a federally elected official, Gianforte can't be recalled.)

Sadly, the fact that Gianforte's assault happened on a reporter also makes it more likely to disappear as a major issue since reporters are about as popular as foot fungus. (Sidebar: For people who cheered Gianforte's slam of Jacobs, ask yourself this: Do you think it's a good thing societally for a reporter to get beaten up for doing his job? How about one human treating another one that way?)

Gianforte will be seated. And, at the moment, it's hard to see Republicans even considering forcing him to resign (or even consider it). The likeliest outcome is that Gianforte will come to Washington and then recede into the backbenches of Congress -- never to be heard from again. And his conduct will have no real-world consequences.

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Greg Gianforte won. Now what do Republicans do? - CNN