Without Walz we are left with several top-notch candidates like Rybak, Coleman, and perhaps Kelliher. But the problem with these folks is that they offer nothing but the DFL politics of old, which notably have not played well in a governor’s race since back in the Perpich days.

We need a renewed DFL politics, and for that we need to nominate a Paul Thissen or Steve Simon or someone of that ilk. A Thissen or Simon campaign would bring new people into the fold (read: 18-30 yeard olds that actually vote their interests) and lure the disenchanted to become reengaged (read: “independents” fed up with the DFL haplessness when it comes to state-wide policy).

I don’t think Walz could lose barring a major scandal and it’s Tim Walz so I doubt there is such a scandal waiting to be found.

If Walz gets in it’s his. Period. He would almost certainly clear the field of anything more then token opposition and even if Pawlenty or Ramstead ran he would be a heavy favorite in the general. He has proven he can win in a swing district. He has proven he can run a grassroots campaign so he would get better totals in the cites then Hatch. He would run better in other rural areas and I think he’d run well in the suburbs too.

With that being said. I don’t think Tim Walz wants to be governor.

Plus, we don’t know if Walz even wants to be Governor. Many would not view the Governor as a promotion from a Congressional Seat. Some, those focused on Federal policy, would see it as at best a lateral move.

Margaret does a good interview, but I need to see her work a room a’la Rudy Perpich before I go ga-ga. If I do, she’s my strong second. She did a great job this session and proved a lot.

Meantime, speaking as one of the token Iron Rangers in the blogosphere, expect one or more Don Quioxe runs from my neighborhood. Bakk and Rukavina are somewhat serious about running. They probably won’t both run, but the one that does will garner some union support and sit on about 20 percent of the floor vote at the 2010 convention. That’s why Walz is my top prediction right now. He’ll walk in with the 1st CD lined up and a share of every other district giving him a leg up on the Ranger (probably Bakk) and the half dozen state legislators and people named Mark Dayton.

Margaret’s best chance is to unite the Ryback, Coleman, Clark, Atkins, etc. forces behind her. She does that and Walz stays out and she’s got a clear path. It’s possible. Not likely.

And we all see how well that worked.

If the DFL wants to ignore 40 percent of the party, this would be a great way to say once again that rural doesn’t matter. I’m not even saying that a ruralite has to be the nominee, but if we enter the 2010 election talking about how we have to chose from a half dozen Twin Cidiots, I know there will be a lot of people who lose interest in the whole discussion outstate.

But I see her as more effective in the legislative branch. She has earned my respect, but think she will find the most success in her current role as Speaker.