[flexcoders] Race condition in RichTextEditor

[jwp2k_uva]

I'm in the process of extending RichTextEditor component with
"Ctrl-b", "Ctrl-i", and "Ctrl-u" keyboard formatting options. 

Conceptually, it's quite simple.  For example, "Ctrl-b" will dispatch
a mouse click event from the RichTextEditor's boldButton.  However,
the following code will only work if some text is highlighted.  

Additionally, this code in debug mode with a breakpoint will always
work.   

If you know of a way to address this without adding empty cpu cycles
or rewriting RichTextEditor.mxml file, please let me know.

Thanks.    
    
-----------------------------------------------
note, rte is a RichTextEditor object.

private function InitializeComponent():void 
{
   rte.addEventListener(KeyboardEvent.KEY_DOWN, keyDown);
}  

private function keyDown(event:KeyboardEvent):void
{       
   if ((event.ctrlKey) && (event.charCode == 98)) // "Ctrl-b"
   {              
      rte.boldButton.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent(MouseEvent.CLICK));
   }                            
}

------------------Ugly workaround-------------
private function keyDown(event:KeyboardEvent):void
{       
   if ((event.ctrlKey) && (event.charCode == 98)) // "Ctrl-b"
   {            
      rte.boldButton.setFocus();
      // Add empty cpu cycles 
      rte.boldButton.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent(MouseEvent.CLICK));
   }                            
}