Miller's replacement

That's my wording, for the record. My point was simply that she's someone who has considered running for higher office before.

Senator Cowell's "ambition is well known"? Yes, it is, but not in regards to Miller's replacement. Her ambition is obvious in the slate of Bills she is sponsoring or cosponsoring. Her ambition is, and has always been, to do the best at whatever she does and to do it for the public good. Anybody who knows her knows that her ambition is not for personal advancement, quite the opposite, in fact. Thanks goodness she's ambitious -- the state will be well served.

I certainly wouldn't describe Sen. Cowell as a politician who's "ambition is well known". She ultimately decided not to run for Treasurer, not because she couldn't win, but because the duties of the Treasurer are very narrow, and not where she wants to concentrate her efforts.

If she were ambitious, she would be neglecting the important work occurring at the General Assembly while campaigning for Treasurer (much like some of the gubernatorial candidates are doing).

Instead, she has championed a number of very fine bills during the current long session.

The very fact that Grier Martin is considering the race, after Janet's name had already been floated around, shows that she has made no attempts at intimidating others into staying away, as an ambitious politician eyeing the race would do.

I guess that just the act of running for political office makes one "ambitious" in the eyes of Mr. Beckwith and Ms. Bonner.

I've found Janet Cowell to be a good speaker. She sounds passionate without being pushy. Come to think of it, a bit like Miller himself.

If a bullfrog had wings it wouldnt bump its tail when it jumped. There are lots of if's in all these scenarios. I dont think Miller will do it, the timing is not right.

I think a Cowell v. Martin showdown would be interesting. Could be the only way for Raleigh to lose the seat. Those two battle it out, Sen. Hagan from Greensboro runs, and she takes it when they split the Raleigh vote. Just my two cents.

tjrutledge, you could be right. Then again, Grier Martin has an issue profile that closely fits the 13th, he actually lives in the district, and he's got a great personal story.

Oh, and the netroots absolutely loves the guy.

Janet Cowell would be the frontrunner in this race, for sure (if it happens). The district is dominated by Wake County, and Cowell has represented the entire city of Raleigh while on council, and she now represents Raleigh and other parts of Wake in the Senate.

This morning we were drafting Coop to run against Dole, why wouldn't a 13th District race be a good next option for him?

One possibility?

I can think of hundreds of possibilities . . . what's the point of zeroing in on this one?

Janet's great, don't get me wrong, but it seems more than a little strange for this story to focus exclusively on her. As another commenter said, for example, Grier Martin is an in-district possibility that has already spawned lots of interesting conversations.

State Rep. Grier Martin is a better choice -- and he lives in the district.