In Mexico, a poll from the Democratic Governors Association shows Lt. Gov. Diane Denish (D) with big leads over her likely Republican rivals.

Any comment from Calderon?

Oh, Steve. We poor NEW Mexicans get very little respect as it is. Please correct your piece to show that Denish is from NEW Mexico. Danp at 12.02p is correct.

* And in Louisiana, Dems have been looking for a top-tier challenger to take on Sen. David Vitter (R) next year, and they may have found one. Rumor has it that Rep. Charlie Melancon (D) is poised to launch a Senate campaign. Vitter is considered a vulnerable incumbent, after running on a "family values" platform and then getting caught up with a prostitution ring.

No, no! Stormy Daniels! Make Diaper Man run against the honest working girl. Giving Vitter a "top-tier" challenger just legitimizes him. He's a joke - treat him like one.

Will anyone, I don't care what party, please run against Harry Reid?

In next year's Senate race in Pennsylvania, either Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak will be well positioned to defeat former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) in a general election match-up, according to a new Rasmussen poll.

I know it's unlikely but I would love to see Specter go down in the primary. Toomey can not win a general election in PA so the Democratic primary voters really need to decide if they want an opportunistic turncoat who hasn't really done anything for his new party yet or a real Democrat to represent them.

The traditional/historical meaning of Nuevo Mexico was purportedly "another Mexico." I like that, so let's just say Denish is running for jefe feminino de otro Mexico. She'll get my vote.

In next year's Senate race in Pennsylvania, either Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak will be well positioned to defeat former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) in a general election match-up, according to a new Rasmussen poll.

Which shows even more why the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party needs to support Sestak. We have got to whack these sonsofbitches like Spectre and put them "face down, bleeding out from a large-caliber exit wound" politically. We have to "kill" one of them to get the attention of the rest of the scumsucking pinstriped pimps like Baucus, Bayh and the rest of the DINO sellouts.

I'd like to see Spectre out as well. It's untenable that Democrats are supporting someone who switches party for purely selfish purposes ("I don't wanna lose my cushy job"). Why does he receive democratic support when someone like Sestak will be far more supportive to the Democratic party? I group him with Lieberman.

Jeffords, when he left the Republican party, switched on the basis of political ideology. He was never in any danger of losing his senate seat.

In Hawaii, .... both Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D) and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann (D) lead ...

Unfortunately, neither of them is actually qualified to be governor, though I suppose Hannemann is marginally less unqualified by dint of actual executive experience. Successful executive experience, however....

Also about Hawai'i, Aiona is a cipher (the office of Lt. Gov. is weak tea at best anyway) and the Republican bench is laughable. There are only five Rs in the State Senate, and none of them show any interest in the Gov. job.

I wrote Abercrombie a note on my blog telling him to stay in the House, where I thought he could do the US more good. I think he just wants to come home from DC.

* In a setback for Republican recruiting, former Rep. Jon Porter (R) officially ruled out a Senate campaign next year against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D). -- Steve Benen

Not a "setback"; an un-looked for bonus. Repubs can keep their money for other -- more winnable -- battles and get, for free, a Senator who's a amiably disposed to their agenda as they could ever wish for. Reid's proved himself to be more useful to them than he is to us.

Linkmeister,

The idea of Duke Aiona as governor gives me the chills. If I wanted fundamentalist born-again jesus freaks running my state I'd move to Oklahoma.

Thanks, Yellow Dog. I wanted to say something similar myself. Frankly, from the three interviews with Ms. Daniels that I've seen, she would be a good candidate.