Jerome at MYDD.com has this post where he seems to understand the situation which faces the national Democratic Party leading up to 2008: the need to bridge -- rather than deepen -- the blue-red state divide.

The bottom line: "I believe that a 'purple state' ticket has the potential to not only win, but to marginalize the Republicans as a regional and extremist party.

P.S. You want names? He names Govs. Mark Warner (Va.) and Bill Richardson (N.M.).

P.P.S. In the coming days some may spin today's announcement that Philadelphia will host the 100th meeting of the National Governor's Association (NGA).

By the way, the chairman of the NGA is none other than Mark Warner (Va.).

Former chairs include Bill Clinton (1986-1987), John Ashcroft (1991-1992), and Howard Dean, M.D. (1994-1995).

- posted by C @ 4:22:00 PM