[Alcibiades]

The political parties never really have "benches". The difference is that the press reports widely on the democrats and ignores the republicans unless the news if negative for one of them. The democrats just recycle the same tired old people (Kerry, Daschle, Gephart). Republicans run with a different set of nominees every time. Many of the Republican nominees are not elected officials (Buchanon, Forbes, Keyes)or they are governors so they return to obscurity, at least nationally, but the Dems are generally senators or representatives that remain in the spotlight. If Kerry loses the press will start on the 2008 election in December and it will be Hillary vs. Edwards. The press will keep them in the spotlight for years.

[Biblebelter]

I am not sure if it is accurate to say the Republicans run a new set of nominees every time. Robert Dole or George Bush was on every presidential ticket from 1976 through 1996. In the 1996 election, Dole was one tired recycled Washington insider. Republican governorships have been a source of new blood for Republicans. I follow politics beyond what the lamestream media covers, and I do not see any rising stars in the governorships.