Mark Warner, Virginia's Democratic Governor with sky-high approval ratings, is loath to take on freshman GOP Senator George Allen next year, potentially leaving his party high and dry without a candidate. But who might come to the rescue, report The Washington Post's Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts? None other than Ben Affleck.

If you liked him as Bennifer . . . you'll love him as Benator!

That's the hot new idea being tossed around by Virginia Democrats, who are desperately searching for a big name to challenge the reelection bid of rising GOP star Sen. George Allen next year, now that outgoing Gov. Mark Warner has ducked out.

Why, who should happen to be pondering a move to Thomas Jefferson country but a certain square-jawed media magnet with a taste for liberal politics and millions to spend on it . . . Ben Affleck ! Star of "Gigli" and the J.Lo tab romance, now happily settled with "Alias" star Jennifer Garner .

The couple, expecting their first child, have been shopping for real estate around Charlottesville. British tabloids claim it's a done deal; we will only go so far as to report that they checked out at least one country estate a few weeks ago.

It was about that time that party officials started batting Affleck's name around. "It's spread pretty widely, at least in the political underground," University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato, Virginia's premier pundit, told Michael Shear, The Post's Richmond correspondent.

Affleck certainly has the money and name recognition to take on Allen. And if he's actually interested in the race, wait until this year's tightly contested gubernatorial race in the state is completed. If Democrat Tim Kaine can eke out a victory over Republican Jerry Kilgore, perhaps Affleck will take a serious glance at throwing his hat into the ring.