Ben Affleck for Senator 2006 (Virginia?)

Ben Affleck may be running for Senate from Virginia in 2006. His name is one being tossed around by Virginia Democrats. The other name being tossed around is best-selling author John Grisham. Both are good choices and wouldn't have any problems with raising funds. Affleck, originally from Massachusetts, just married Jennifer Garner recently and they have been searching for real estate in Charlottesville recently.

That's the hot new idea being tossed around by Virginia Democrats, who are desperately searching for a big name to challenge the reelection bid of rising GOP star Sen. George Allen next year, now that outgoing Gov. Mark Warner has ducked out.

Why, who should happen to be pondering a move to Thomas Jefferson country but a certain square-jawed media magnet with a taste for liberal politics and millions to spend on it...Ben Affleck ! Star of Gigli and the J.Lo tab romance, now happily settled with "Alias" star Jennifer Garner .

The couple, expecting their first child, have been shopping for real estate around Charlottesville. British tabloids claim it's a done deal; we will only go so far as to report that they checked out at least one country estate a few weeks ago.

It was about that time that party officials started batting Affleck's name around. "It's spread pretty widely, at least in the political underground," University of Virginia professor Larry Sabato, Virginia's premier pundit, told Michael Shear, The Post's Richmond correspondent.

Another name on the wish list: blockbuster legal-thriller writer John Grisham . But the central Virginia farmhouse owner, who gives generously to Democrats and did a stint in the Mississippi legislature, has brushed off past overtures, sources say.

In truth, the Dems are less concerned with beating Allen than slowing him down. Both he and Warner are eyeing the 2008 presidential race.

Affleck spokesman Ken Sunshine said the rumors are baseless, though "he would be a superb candidate for public office in the future. Right now, he's very busy directing his first feature movie for Disney, Gone, Baby, Gone."

I think he would make a fine candidate. He stumped for John Kerry. Now, before the Republicans attack him by saying he's from Hollywood...I have one word for you: Arnold.

This article on Jon Stewart is rather old yet it just showed up in my Google alerts under News.

Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson is an optimist. We can and we will take back the rest of Indiana. This is a big excerpt but Mayor Peterson spoke a lot on how to win back offices in Indiana.

When Peterson came to the microphone, he said, "It's a lone time to be a Democrat in Indiana."

When Evan Bayh was elected governor, Peterson said it was then he discovered that it's a lot easier to build your party when you win the big race.

Democrats in Indianapolis won control of the city/county council in 2003 and won the sheriff and prosecutor elections by 20,000 votes.

Marion County, he said, is now looked at as a Democratic county.

"We need to be optimistic about the future of our state," he said.

"I'm confident we can win back the governor's office in 2008."

Of the recent agreement for the $920 million Indianapolis Colts stadium project, Peterson said it was worked out so that none of the cost is coming from Hoosier taxpayers.

At the groundbreaking, Peterson was called on to give what he wanted to be a memorable speech.

"Then they brought in a surprise guest and in walked Peyton Manning," he said. "Nobody will remember I was there."

Peterson touched on actions that have taken place since Republican take over of the state and the country.

On the state side, Peterson said after years of trying to lower property taxes, they are now going up because of the cut in the property tax replacement credit and the rewriting of the school funding formula.

In addition, efforts of trying to spread out government offices regionally are being undone with relocation to Indianapolis.

Nationally, focus is directed to wedge issues such as gay marriage and voter ID, he said.

"It's now harder to vote in Indiana than any other state in the U.S.," Peterson said.

Despite no evidence of voter fraud in the Hoosier state, Indiana voters have to have more identification than any other voter.

"They think it will reduce the number of Democrats who'll vote," Peterson said.

Of President George W. Bush, Peterson said. "He's a divider, not a uniter. ... And I am sick to death of division."

He noted that former President Clinton ran a budget with surpluses, but with Bush, "We now have the highest budget deficits ever."

He added that Republicans only need 51 percent - "just a little bit more than half" - to be satisfied with election wins.

The transportation bill, he said, was put on hold for three years. However, the Terri Schiavo case received a special session and Bush's return from Texas.

"They didn't care about Terri Schiavo," he said. "She was a pawn."

Peterson gave four actions Democratic Hoosiers must take to come back and win control of the state.

First, he said, Democrats must nominate candidates who can win instead of falling in love with a candidate's rhetoric, style and wit.

"Don't disqualify candidates because they can't pass a certain litmus test," he said.

Second, Democrats must be positive and take that positive message to the public.

"We need to talk about what we're going to do and achieve," he said.

"Don't use negative campaigning and don't sling mud."

Next, there must be a focus on pulling people together and appealing to everyone.

"Be inclusive, generous and throw away the 51-49 way of thinking," he said.

Finally, Democrats must be better organized than Republicans to take back Indiana, he said.

Despite the fact that the vast majority of people are Democrats, Peterson said, Republicans are much better organized.

"We have to want it more than they do," he said.

Peterson announced a summit called "Leaders on the Brink" his office is working on. It will be held in Indianapolis in November.

The summit is designed to teach younger people how they can become involved in government and how to win elections.

Democrats, he said, do have the potential to take back control of Indiana from Republicans.

"We're in position where we can go after them and show a positive alternative," he said.

"We can do it. We will be back."

This just in: Keith Richards is set to join Johnny Depp in The Pirates of the Caribbean sequel.

Dick Lugar was recently in the city of Louisville to speak at the McConnell Center. His colleague, Senator Evan Bayh, was in Louisville last August for a press conference with Jonathan Miller and Ben Chandler.