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Voinovich stays, or Voinovich goes.  What fun.

His re-election bid actually would not be as difficult as it seems.  As I’ve written before, a moderate Republican who can claim a Cleveland base is odds on favorite against any Democrat statewide.  Voinovich is not a wingnut Republican from downstate, a straight jacket which Mike Dewine fit into quite nicely.  He would probably win.  Which is why half the elected Democrats in the state have been waiting for a decision.  No one wants to take on Voinovich.  

I’m gonna guess Voinovich will retire.  His time has come and gone.  At his age, Voinovich is probably looking at only one more term, which likely means he is facing permanent minority status in the Senate, under an Obama administration.  One thing Voinovich does not like is being on the outside.  

So that leaves us with a primary, fellow Democrats!!  A Senate primary!!  And gee, that went SO well last time for bloggers in Ohio, didn’t it?  

I certainly expect the field to be cleared for someone.  Ted Strickland and Chris Redfern like nothing more than to throw their muscle around during a primary.  The PD has given everyone permission to speculate.

Wheels are turning in political circles about the possibilities, not only on the Republican side but also among Democrats. Besides asking congressman Tim Ryan and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, Ohio politicos have approached congressman Zack Space about his interest in the Senate.

Umm….who’s approached Zack Space exactly?  Zack’s reflection in the mirror?  Folks, this primary has been all about Lee Fisher and Tim Ryan since the day after election day in 2006.  

There’s only one way Strickland and Redfern get Lee to step aside.  Lee Fisher is the most self-aggrandizing, ego-driven, prepostitude Ohio Democrats may have ever produced.  When Fisher agreed to be on the ticket in 2006, the only reason that made any sense at all was that he would either (a) be governor in 8 years, or (b) be Senator in 4.   Lee only defers to Tim in 2010 if he is guaranteed a free ride in 2014 for governor.  

That may happen.  But see, here’s the thing.  If Tim Ryan runs for Senate in 2010, and loses, guess who runs against Lee for governor in 2014.  Riiiiiiiight.  So that brings us to Tim.  What are the chances he loses in 2010?

Not many.  I can easily see Tim Ryan winning even a primary with Lee Fisher in it.  Tim Ryan has that thing that Lee Fisher never had, but wishes he did.  And I can’t envision a Republican under any circumstance beating Tim Ryan in the general.  Not in 2010.  Not with Barack Obama campaigning for him.  And not as the entire state has begun to turn deep, bright, blue.

So I think this ball is in Tim Ryan’s court.  And given the interesting traffic at my blog lately, I think that decision may have been made.

Which means a whole lot of fun for me, don’t it.