The Dale Caldwell saga lasted three weeks - from public news of the investigation to his resignation.

So, what now?

Here are some questions - and possible answers.

This is going to tar Mikie Sherrill's Administration, right?

Maybe, but not by much.

Look, most people in New Jersey simply do not know who the lieutenant governor is. That's a reality of general apathy and the decline of strong daily newspaper coverage of the state.

And those who have heard of Caldwell are probably not going to get into the weeds of the report. They are going to see that he's gone and a replacement will soon be named.

That's it.

Studying and analyzing what went wrong is a game for political insiders.

Will this episode hurt the governor's relationship with the Black community? After all, Caldwell, himself, suggested he was a target because he was Black?

At first, that possibility seems reasonable. But let's consider a few things.

Cory Booker was quick to support his resignation, as was Rep. Analilia Mejia, who considers herself Afro-Latina.

Caldwell was also secretary of state. And to temporarily replace him in that role, the governor named a Black woman, Shirley Emehelu.

There is also a possibility that the new permanent lieutenant governor will be a person of color.

So, the answer to the question is no.

How about the Republicans. They are having fun with this, no?'

Of course they are.

Here is the gist of what state GOP chair Christine Hanlon had to say:

"The governor’s call for Caldwell to resign now does not erase the administration’s failure to be transparent or explain why he was allowed to continue serving in positions of authority despite repeated warnings The report reveals a troubling failure of leadership inside the Sherrill administration."

At her Friday press conference, Sherrill dismissed the Republican criticism, suggesting that the party is in a perpetual foul mood because of the unpopular policies of Donald Trump.

That may be true. But the Caldwell matter has nothing to do with the president.

A larger point is that partisan criticism is the norm these days - something the general public expects, and often tunes out.

Could this episode actually help the governor?

Don't laugh.

On Friday, Sherrill spoke of a "cultural change" in Trenton.

The implication was clear. Tradition in state government was to ignore what Caldwell was accused of doing - sexual harassment and seeking favors for a woman he was dating.

But no longer.

Sherrill's take on this issue going forward is easy to understand.

My lieutenant governor turned out to be an embarrassment and I promptly got rid of him.