[southernnorthcarolina]

Bill Frist's star has grown dimmer in the last year or so, but I wouldn't count him out. If we pick up a three or four Senate seats and actually get a working majority, some Senate deadlocks will get broken, maybe in the judicial area, maybe even (dare I say it?) in the area of Supreme Court nominations. Let Frist broker the approval of a conservative Supreme, and he's a hero. Won't happen, though, without a significant increase in the GOP margin. We don't necessarily need the "veto-proof" number of 60 GOP Senators; 55 would have a profound effect.

Frist announced way back that he will not seek re-election to the Senate in 2006. Was this because he wanted to set up a White House run, or because he is frustrated/burned out with politics? We'll find out soon.

How about, as another possibility, Senator George Allen of Virginia?

[Redbob]

"Frist announced way back that he will not seek re-election to the Senate in 2006. Was this because he wanted to set up a White House run, or because he is frustrated/burned out with politics?"

Simpler than that:
During his first run, in '94, he pledged to only serve 12 years.

I know it seems quaint, but he's a man of his word.