The Blackstone Group's bidding war with the Vornado-led group hasn't really riveted Wall Street the way one might have thought. True, it is a war for the title Biggest Ever Buyout--and yes, the numbers are staggering--but people are drawn by big names. Now if it were the Blackstone Group versus Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts, well, that would be another matter. Still, the numbers are huge, and Vornado has not given up yet. It has until today to submit a new bid, and there is a sense of optimism that the consortium will pony up a higher bid, prolonging the war. You also get the sense that there will be bigger bid wars later this year. Lots of money will have to be deployed, and the really good targets are fewer and farther between.

For more on the war:
- here's a CNNMoney.com article