If Diane Savino enters the race now, there will be a very tough primary battle. I will remain a Harrison supporter for two reasons: 1) He has laid out good reasons to vote for him, 2) Nobody else was willing to step up and challenge Vito Fossella.

In defense of Savino's unwillingness to challenge Fossella, she would have to sacrifice her state Senate seat to do so. At a time when Democrats appear poised to take control of that body, and with rules reform a major topic, Savino has a good chance not only to chair a powerful committee but also to get the power to do something with it. Giving that up for an uncertain chance at something bigger is a major risk.

My guess (and it's just a guess -- not even a particularly educated guess at that) is that Savino will stay where she is. I think she'll figure it from a longer-term perspective, something someone as young as she is can do. If Harrison loses she'll have a better chance in 2010 to mount a major run for Congress against a freshman Republican and win. If Harrison wins, however, he probably isn't the type of person who will still be there in 20 years -- he's not about making a career of being an elected official. That still leaves Savino as the "heir apparent" to the seat, which she'd probably get far more easily and while still young enough to make an impact there.

Of course, decisions like this are both far more complicated than can be fully examined in a short blogpost, and far more simple when the time comes to decide.