"If I'm spending my efforts
to re-elect Mark now, he better finish his term."
Mark Kennedy is running for reelection in the House of Representatives, which, as you should know, is a 2-year term. He can run for the Senate in 2006 without having to leave before his term expires.
Governor Pawlenty should run for reelection and keep leading the state on the road to a conservative government. Pawlenty could be a presidential candidate, or perhaps a VP pick, in 2008.