Tim Kaine looks to me like the 3rd best potential VP choice from Virginia.  While I like the idea of picking someone from the state and the fact that he's been a governor rather than a  20-year Senator, it seems that he's had a lackluster term in the state and doesn't bring much to the ticket.  

The best choice to me looks to be Mark Warner, but there is the big complication of forfeiting the Senate seat that it appears he will win in a walk.

My question for Virginians: What is the process for replacing a Senate nominee?  Is it possible to tab Warner for VP and have Kaine jump into the Senate race?  Kaine wouldn't win by the margin that Warner would, but Gilmore appears to be unpopular and the presidential ticket could probably drag him over the finish line.  Is it doable?

According to a brand new Rasmussen poll, Phil Angelides leads Arnold 46-44.  A different poll last week showed Arnold up 44-37, so I don't know which is more accurate.  

I think this is a fairly encouraging poll given that Angelides has had a tough time getting press and Arnold has been in "please everyone" mode.  

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/Sta te%20Polls/July%202006/caGovernor.htm

According to Editor And Publisher, Times reporter Elisabeth Bumiller will be taking a year off to write a bio of Condi Rice.

This is interesting for a couple of reasons:  

1) Bumiller's reporting has occasionally been cited by bloggers for passing on Republican memes.  Is the fact that Condi wants Bumiller to write her bio indicate she believes she'd get more than a fair shake?  

2) Is the timing of this effort intended to coincide with a potential bid by Rice for higher office?  

I've been very skeptical in the past that she'd actually run, but this news certainly gives me pause.

(Note: This diary was cross-posted at Kos)

I was very interested to see mention of John Kitzhaber, the former two-term Oregon governor, on Breaking Blue the other day (see entries http://www.mydd.com/... and http://www.mydd.com/...).  

It seems that the popular ex-Governor and former emergency room doctor recently opted against a bid to reclaim his spot in Salem in favor of a project to promote health care reform, a project described as the Archimedes Movement (http://www.archimedesmovement.org/).

What really piqued my interest however was the rumor, first reported at Political Wire (http://politicalwire.com/...) and cited at the above MyDD links, that Kitzhaber had recently met with former Dean adviser Joe Trippi.  Could Kitzhaber have his mind on an even higher office?

It's too bad the site stopped doing the book club.  I enjoyed reading the takes of Chris and other contributors on the books and it helped make me aware of some interesting reading out there.  Is there a reason why the Club feature fizzled out beyond the fact that Chris probably works too hard on the site as it is?

Yes, I know the conventional Dem wisdom is that a guy like McCain simply couldn't win the Republican nomination because he's not sufficiently Fundie-friendly and has tweaked the party on some issues, but I hate to think we're laying all of our eggs in that optimistic basket. To do so is to assume that an otherwise weakening party will simply turn it's nose up at a guy who looks like a winner, and I'm not sure that's a wise assumption to make.

From the CNN website:

BREAKING NEWS House Majority Leader Tom DeLay indicted on one count of criminal conspiracy by Texas grand jury, according to Travis County clerk's office.

http://www.cnn.com/

Repeat after me:  

I am a Reform Democrat.

I am a Reform Democrat.

The 1889 Johnstown flood was one of our nation's worst natural catastrophes and killed about 2,200 Pennsylvanians.  Maybe Casey should ask Santorum if descendants of the Johnstown flood victims should be retroactively fined, as well?  

I think it's only fair that Pennsylvanians get his opinion on the issue.

http://www.johnstownpa.com/History/hist19.html