Brendan Miniter wants Mitt Romney to run against Ted Kennedy in 2006 to promote Romney’s chances of running for president in 2008. This is horrendously bad advice. First of all, you don’t run for a new job two years before you run for president. It’s too hard and looks too transparently careerist. Second, Romney fought the good fight vs. Ted once, and if Ted couldn’t be beaten in GOP-friendly 1994 he never will be. Third, you lose and it rubs some of the luster off no matter how expected. Fourth, to be a serious 2008 challenger Romney probably needs to get re-elected, hard as that may be.
Maybe, maybe, if Romney wanted to run in 2012 and had a chance of winning this race, I’d advise him to consider it. But I still would balk at that advice. If he wants to go to the Senate, wait until Kerry retires or Ted dies.