John Edwards seems likely to make another bid for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008, but at least one key North Carolina Republican is concerned that the Breck boy is going to mke another bid for the United States Senate. Jim Morrill and Tim Funk have the story for The Charlotte Observer.

Does Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole expect a 2008 challenge from Democrat John Edwards? Or Gov. Mike Easley?

That's what she suggests in a new fundraising letter.

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Dole goes on to say that Edwards, who left the Senate in January, "is conducting meetings throughout our state. Edwards is a multimillionaire who put millions of dollars of his personal wealth into his last campaign for the U.S. Senate and defeated a popular incumbent Republican."

While Easley might actually make a run for the Senate in 2008 (unless he too would rather run for President), it's highly unlikely that Edwards will. For John Edwards, who clearly aspires to the White House, there simply is no upside to a Senate run in 2008. It would preclude him from running against an open field and not significantly improve his resume for 2008.

There has been much talk that either Rudy Giuliani or George Pataki will challenge Hillary Clinton next year. Aside from the fact that Hillary would be extremely tough to beat, becoming a Senator would do little to advance the presidential aspirations of either Giuliani or Pataki. Likewise in Virginia, it is highly unlikely -- though quite disappointing -- that popular Democratic Governor Mark Warner is unlikely to run against Republican Senator George Allen. The same most likely goes for a Mitt Romney bid for a second term as Massachusetts Governor, where his approval ratings are an anemic 41 percent.

2006 will be a wild year with strong politicians on both sides of the aisle forgoing shots as important offices to keep their options open for 2008. How this will affect the national picture is yet unclear, but if enough incumbents begin to see the writing on the wall (a la 1994, when 50 House members retired), 2006 could bring a whole new generation into Congress and statehouses across the country.