Ryan may figure he could be the VP candidate, too.
Thompson will probably win this seat now which will definitely be a step up from Herbie.
A Thompson run for the Senate is a huge development. First, it crowds out Feingold, because he would lose to Thompson and won’t take the risk. Second, with Thompson in, the GOP will avoid a primary, albeit there may be token opposition on the right. Third, a Thompson run will hurt Obama in Wisconsin, as well as down-ballot Democrats — note that Thompson is jumping in notwithstanding the fact that Obama is at the top of the ticket.
The whole thing is delicious and there is another Obama state that has become a toss-up.