TX-Sen: Senator Lampson?

Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas) is going to have a really tough time holding on to is seat. Lampson represents the suburban Houston 22nd district, previously held by Tom DeLay. To even have a remote chance of holding out to his seat in a Presidential year, Lampson would have to raise millions of dollars and take on top notch, top funded Texas Republicans.

Well, because everything is bigger in Texas, so should the political campaigns, right? So, hey, if Lampson has to defend his House seat by running a statewide-like campaign, then why not actually run a statewide campaign?

Texas's junior Senator, Republican John Cornyn is up for reelection next year. Cornyn is perhaps the most loyal Senator to President Bush. He was elected in 2002, a Republican year, in the narrowest margin for a Republican since Beau Boulter lost to Democrat Lloyd Bentsen 59%-40% in 1988; and he was the state Attorney General at the time. Cornyn's approval rating isn't all that great and 2008 doesn't look to be a big Republican year, Presidential election or not.

Lampson would still be an underdog, but he has a history of winning in red areas. He did, somehow, manage to win 52% of the vote in a heavily Republican district. Even if he doesn't win statewide, he'll likely do better than any Democrat since Ann Richards. The last thing the NRSC needs to do is defend Texas when they're trying to retake a majority. Nick Lampson will force them to pour money into their largest safe zone.

There is one caveat though. If Nick Lampson runs for the US Senate, there is almost no way the Democrats can defend his House seat...not that they'll need it.