I was pleased to see former US Senator and current Presidential candidate Mike Gravel dish out some raw straight talk at the debate tonight.
The idea then occurred to me that perhaps he should run for US Senate from Alaska, once the primary season for the Presidential race is nearly over (and as expectd, barring a major miracle, Gravel is not headed towards the nomination), as we could certainly use his unfiltered talk in the US Senate.
I checked and found that Ted "The internet is a series of tubes" Stevens' seat is up next year, and he apparently intends to seek re-election.
While Gravel's presence plays a vital role in the Presidential race to the degree that we need someone to say what needs to be said without the fear of consequences, he may present an opportunity to gain a senate seat as well, while in process attempting to unseat someone whose life mission seems to be dismantling the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.
The filing deadline in Alaska is June 2008 and the primary is in August 2008. By then, quite likely, the primary process will be nearly over unless we're headed towards a brokered convention. Since it is quite safe to predict that Gravel will not be getting the Presidential nomination, he could at that point shift to the US Senate race.
The attention he is gaining by being in the Presidential race will probably help him with the primary, where Mark Begich, the current Mayor of Anchorage, is mentioned by the wiki page as a potential Democratic candidate. I must admit to not having any idea which of these two would be the stronger general election prospect, but Gravel having had won for US Senate before there should be in a pretty good stead to win the election.
Finally, of course, we cannot have a diary talking about Ted Steven without enjoying (yet again) DJ Steven's Techno Remix! Here it comes...