Questions Have been Raised

But don't worry - I've got answers!

Beau's deployment raises an interesting question: What will become of Biden's Senate seat if he gets the veep nods and Obama wins the election? Delaware political observers (yes, they do exist) have long presumed that Beau hoped to succeed his father.

The senator, who is seeking a seventh term this year, may remain on the November Senate ballot, according to state election law. If Biden wins both races, he can take the Senate oath and then resign. The Democratic governor, Ruth Ann Minner, would then appoint a replacement who would serve until the next general election in 2010.

The law is unclear, however, as to whether Beau Biden could be named while serving in Iraq.

The Governor has the power to appoint Senators? Is there any sort of advice and consent mechanism involved? Can Senators likewise appoint new Governors? If not, one could almost infer some sort of informal hierarchy within the State, with the Governor at the top. (And please don't argue that Delaware is a small, insignificant State with a population under one million - Senators are equal.)

Update: Golly - it happened in Wyoming just last year, and in Minnesota a few years ago.

More: Holy Cow!

Gov. Janet Napolitano remains Arizona's most popular elected official and would top Sen. John McCain in a matchup for his Senate seat, according to poll results released Tuesday.
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Several factors figure to influence any Napolitano decision about running for Senate. Perhaps most immediate is the presidential campaign, which, if a Democrat wins, could eventually result in a Cabinet or other appointment for Napolitano. If she resigns her office, Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer would serve the remainder of Napolitano's term as governor.

But,

If Arizona Sen. John McCain is elected president, his vacant Senate seat would have to be filled by a Republican appointed by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Meanwhile, in a big important State,

With Sen. Barack Obama setting his sights on the White House, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is keeping an eye on Obama's Senate seat.

If Obama wins in November, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will have the responsibility to fill Obama's vacant seat.

“I wouldn’t say no if asked,” Jackson, an Illinois Democrat, told Congressional Quarterly.

Jackson is a national co-chairman for Obama’s campaign, but he has competition to succeed Obama in the Senate. Tammy Duckworth, a disabled Iraq war veteran who lost a House bid in 2006 is often mentioned as a possibility, as are Illinois Reps. Rahm Emanuel, Jan Schakowsky, and Luis V. Gutierrez. Blagojevich could even appoint himself.

Speaking of Governors:

If Palin wins election as John McCain's vice president, [Alaska Lieutenant Governor Sean] Parnell would move up to governor and state Attorney General Talis Colberg would become lieutenant governor.