According to the conventional wisdom that governs the career calculations of most ambitious politicians, there are two ways to get ahead in elected politics.

The simplest way is to run for the office you covet when it comes open and to win it—or, failing that, to wage a noble-but-losing campaign that puts you first in line for the next time around. This approach enjoys a long tradition—renewed this year with John McCain’s nomination—in Republican presidential politics.

And then there’s the other strategy: If there is an unbeatable and immovable force blocking you from the office you desire, yield to that force, embrace it and hope it will favor you with its blessing for the next opening.  read more »

“This is a serious election,” said Chuck Schumer on a conference call about Hillary Clinton’s campaign this morning. He added that voters choose Clinton when they “get close to decision-making time, when they know this is for real."

Schumer spoke after Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, who said that Hillary had started to win now that “people have gotten through the initial job interviews.”  read more »

According to the Clinton people, the decision to delay the event on this busy news day was made because McHugh is stuck in Germany due to illness.

In case you missed it, here's a video of that eventful John Edwards speech at Riverside Church which included the following indirect (but unmistakable) criticism of Hillary Clinton:

"If you're in Congress and you know this war is going in the wrong direction, it is no longer enough to study your options and keep your own counsel.

"Silence is betrayal. Speak out, and stop this escalation now. You have the power to prohibit the president from spending any money to escalate the war - use it. "

Hillary Clinton reportedly hired Mike Henry, who served as field coordinator for Gov. Mark Warner in 2001 and managed a senate race in Florida.

Andrew Cuomo is already the state's attorney general, according to this site.

Joe Bruno wants to start the selection process over again for picking a new franchise to run horse racing in the state.

Is incumbency protection organized crime?

Kos has a a list of rules"primary campaign blog disclosure" just in time for the run-up to 2008.

Clinton gave $1,000 to help Long Island Republican Peter King's challenger. The more conservatives get to know Rudy Giuliani's record, the more they'll like him, says John Podhoretz.

With a new Democratic majority taking over congress in January, some industries have to find new friends on Capitol Hill.

Fred Dicker reports that Governor Pataki rejected a plan to raise pay for state lawmakers in exchange for raising the cap on charter schools.

Andrew Cuomo's transition team comes together.

Errol Louis debunks some eminent domain figures.

And pollingreport.com has a list of every poll result they gathered for the midterm election.

Ben says Hillary ultimately, but focus now shifts to Al Gore and Barack Obama.

The Fix says Bayh is the obvious winner.

And Joseph Mercurio sides with Sullivan, saying Warner wasn't a top-tier contender in the first place.

When Rep. Menendez takes over for Corzine in the Senate this January, he'll leave an empty seat in the House. And though this vancancy won't be filled until the 2006 elections, influential Jersey Dems are already lining up behind Albio Sires, the State Assembly Speaker.