[Southack]

"If he steps down, who is going to step in? Will Hellary want it in 2004?"

Keeping in mind Election 2004 dynamics, I see a half dozen viable replacements for Senator Kerry:

1. Senator Breaux
2. Senator Edwards
3. Former President Carter
4. Former Governor Dean
5. Former VP Gore
6. Senator Clinton

...and at least three of the above are probably the top candidates (minus Governor Richardson) for Senator Kerry's VP candidate (should JFK stay in the race).

[Future Snake Eater]

1. Senator Breaux--not enough name recognition nationwide.
2. Senator Edwards--possible, but unlikely, not enough time to formulate a "Beat Bush" strategy
3. Former President Carter--there were MANY reasons he wasn't reelected in 1980, and they would be remembered
4. Former Governor Dean--he's already shot himself in the foot on numerous occassions; not even liberals want an unstable quack as president
5. Former VP Gore--yesterday's news, not in a million years
6. Senator Clinton--the only one who has the best chance; she is vicious and power-hungry and she probably has a staff working 'round the clock to formulate anti-Bush strategies on the taxpayers' dime; she is the "best" candidate for the RATs

[ought-six]

Former President Carter? Totally absurd.