Frist Behind the '08 Ball

Why the Senate isn't always a great place from which to run for President

It is one of Washington's open secrets that Senate Republican leader Bill Frist is eyeing the 2008 presidential race. But, as Bob Dole learned in 1996, running the Senate while campaigning for President is a particularly difficult proposition, and Frist's day job is already getting in the way. George W. Bush last week renominated 12 federal-appeals-court judges that Democrats had blocked in his first term. Frist has threatened to change Senate rules on extended floor debate to prevent Democrats from filibustering judicial nominees again, but Democrats say they will shut down the Senate if the Tennessean tries to make such a move.

That leaves Frist in...

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