Running in absentia is fucking brilliant.

How can the GOP go negative? The candidate is protected from gaffes.

The 'roots will have to carry the campaign, but it will be good for 'em.

Flip-flopping on going back...that would backfire horribly on them. Especially since none of them went to Iraq.

he said on Harball the other day. (i watch becuse there aren't to many politcal show left.) That he was considering a run so he isn't out yet.

Hackett said he'll go back to Iraq if his unit is sent back to Iraq.  So far it hasn't been to my knowledge.

Disclaimer:  I was rooting for Ryan, right from the start.

I'll admit I was very suspicious when Sherrod Brown started GrowOhio; I thought he was using it as a platform to launch his own career.

But if he managed to get Tim (Tagaris) on board, then there is a fairly decent chance that Brown is the idealist that others made him out to be and that he honestly does want to "Grow Ohio".

I personally am hoping that as things continue to heat up, Brown will be there to support all the Democratic candidates.  I've heard he has the charisma, and he has shown leadership within congress.

Expect to see him fighting on the front lines for Ohio Dems.

That would rock!

Yes.  I have to agree with that.  We need the energy and truthfulness Hackett showed.

I'm quite interested in Hackett (not much interested in Ryan) - but I think this is a really intriguing idea. I think he could be a strong candidate.

With Brown out of the race, I have to believe either Hackett or Ryan is going to run. The reason they may have seemed unenthusiastic previously, with the front-runner out of the picture, its their race to lose. One or the other will and should run.

now that Brown is out both Hackett and Ryan are probibly rethinking there plans right now.

Kaptur... my home district.

I wouldn't recommend her, especially after her quite vocal citicism of Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal... she was one of the few Democrats voicing for everything just short of resignation... "restitution" as she called it I remember.

No. I think Ohio State Senator Theresa Fedor would be a much better choice. She's a former schoolteacher from Toledo and, IMHO, she would be great as a US Senator.

But I like Hackett a lot too.... won't somebody make their announcement for candidacy so this Progressive can start helping out your campaign?!?

Chris would make a great Senator, but I think he's needed in one of the other statewide races.  He's a great leader and manager (unlike some of Ohio's current executives) and would be great in the watchdog position of State Auditor.  No way he would have let something like Coingate (even a smaller version of such) happen on his watch.

Check out his new website at: http://redfernforohio.com/.  He even has a blog option that you can post your comments about his potential run, and give feedback on his website, the issues, etc.