Safe Democrats

Rhode Island: The Phoenix wonders what's next for 2006 RI-GOP Senate primary loser Steve Laffey, suggesting that a 2010 gubernatorial bid is likely while a 2008 challenge to Senator Jack Reed is very unlikely. Another sign that Reed could very well wind up with a free pass or only token opposition.

CQPolitics continues its Senate analysis with "Safe Democratic" seats in Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island and West Virginia. I concur that these are all very safe. With WV's Shelley Moore Capito and DE's Mike Castle expected to run for House re-election, and Senators Richard Durbin, John Kerry, and Jack Reed expecting only token opposition, these should be very comfortable re-election bids. Michigan is likely the only state of the six that might feature a notable Republican opponent. CQPolitics lists as potential candidates:

There are some prominent Republicans mentioned as possible 2008 candidates, though, who could give Levin a stronger test than usual were any of them to run. They include 8th District Rep. Mike Rogers, Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land and state Attorney General Mike Cox. None of them is expected to run.

The Guru will keep an ear out for rumblings; but, as CQPolitics notes, none are expected to run.

Now that it looks like we may have a new entry in the Presidential race, the Guru wonders when religious and social conservatives will start making a big deal out of the fact that Republican former Senator and would-be Presidential candidate Fred Thompson knocked up his high school girlfriend out of wedlock and ultimately divorced her.