I am tired of the Presidential polling so I have decided to run my own poll. Who will be the Star of the 2006 cycle? Who will be our next stand out? The Obama of 2004 tommorrow? We have alot of possible candidates and I want to run over the bio of a couple of the possible superstars.
Some of these will be debated on the merit of already being superstars, however I specifically removed 3 whom I felt were already fairly well cemented in the public eye from the list (Gov's Rendell and Richardson and AG Spitzer) since they are not starting at the same level as some of these folks who I will discuss below the fold...
Governor Kathleen Sebelius- Leading a united Democratic party in a divided Republican state. She has proven she can steel herself against the Republican onslaught. She is Policy Chair for the DGA.
http://www.ksgovernor.com/
Congressman Mark Udall- Son of Mo Udall, is likely to run against Wayne Allard in 2008. Strongly focused on enviromental issues... He has ambition for higher office and will likely work hard in '06 to turn Colorado an even deeper blue.
www.markudall.org
State Treasurer Phil Angelides- Became California Democratic Party Chair in 1991 overseeing the party activity that led to the Party for most of the '90's before being elected State Treasurer in 1998. If he can return the Governor's Mansion to Democratic hands he will be the Giant slayer and be propelled to the top levels of Democratic politics.
http://www.angelides.com/
Governor Janet Napolitano- returned fiscal responsibility to Arizona by clearing a billion dollar deficit, she has also been known for keeping state government accessible to the people. She has also focused on better education and senior prescription plans.
http://www.governor.state.az.us/
SOS Kathy Cox- Candidate for Governor of Georgia and hoping to prevent Sonny Perdue from making further history in Georgia. She is a two term SOS who won re-election with over 61% of the vote.
http://www.cathycox.com/
Mayor Martin O'Malley- Candidate for Governor of Maryland. He currently leads in head to head polls with Ehrlich and was a top five Big City Mayor according to Time. Winning re-election as Mayor with a whopping 87% his work on behalf of seniors seems to be going over very well.
http://www.friendsofomalley.org/
Governor Ted Kulongoski- Has repeatedly won statewide election in Oregon and as Attorney General revamped the Juvenile Justice system as well as cracking down on corporate polluters.
http://www.governor.state.or.us/
Governor Brad Henry- Won a come from behind victory in '02 by beating Steve Largent (a former Congressman and NFL star). One of the most shocking wins of the year he has set a moderate course for Oklahoma (even a liberal course by OK standards), re-election would send him into National status as a spokesman for party revival in red states.
http://www.governor.state.ok.us
Governor Rod Blagojevich- Made headlines while fighting for access to prescription drugs from Canada. A Chicago power player he faces attacks from Republicans as well as grassroots factions of the Democratic Party. So far no one is challenging him in a primary and he likely has the charisma to be a National spokesman and fundraising headliner for events nationwide if he can pull his party together.
www.illinois.gov/gov
Congressman Russ Carnahan- Serving in his first term in Congress he was one of the bright spots in Missouri in a dismal year. Voting a moderate-Left line he has been successful at raising money in his first term and could parlay that into a starring role in 2006 as an up and coming Member.
http://www.russcarnahan.com/
Former Congressman Nick Lampson- A victim of DeLay's powergrab he is now seen as a likely candidate to knock off the overreaching exterminator polling shows DeLay in trouble (if he makes it to 2006) and it would be sweet justice for one of those unjustly thrown out to give him the boot. Lampson would be a media lighting rod in a 2006 matchup with DeLay.
http://www.lampson.com/