[AntiGuv]

Make that homestates of Washington & Illinois - I read that so fast I thought you were talking about three potential Murray challengers at first.

Regarding Edgar in particular, he apparently demanded a guarantee of funding levels from the NRSC that wasn't forthcoming, and so that evidently played the greater role in his decision.

I'm uncertain which Rice you're referring to? Do you mean Condoleezza Rice possibly running against Boxer? If so, I think she'd much rather be National Security Advisor and a frontrunner for the 2008 VP spot than risk it all on a highly competitive Senate challenge.

[Kuksool]

{Regarding Edgar in particular, he apparently demanded a guarantee of funding levels from the NRSC that wasn't forthcoming}

Yup. Jim Edgar demanded that the NRSC give him $3 million up front. In addition, Edgar demanded a spot on the Foreign Relations Committee should he win. Bill Frist and George Allen didn't want to make those type of promises without knowing how the other Senate races would turn out.