Who would've thought 8 years ago that Democrats would be where we are right now?  I mean Bush had just been declared the victor by the supreme court and Republicans had control of the House of Reps. and were poised to take back the Senate.  Democrats now control 60 seats in the Senate, a strong majority in the House of Reps. as well as the Presidency.  But way back then it was not easy to see the road ahead or just who would be traveling with us.  Hardly anybody outside Illinois' thirteenth district had even heard of Barack Obama.  Al Franken hadn't even written "Lying Liars" yet.  Nancy Pelosi had just been elected the first female minority whip in congressional history and Harry Reid was majority whip over in the Senate.  Yet here we are all these years later and these are the power players, among others of course.  My point is that most onlookers were oblivious of what  was to come for our current leaders but was the rise to leadership unpredictable (surely in Al's case) or could careful observers have seen the possibilities.  Well I'm an observer and as carefully as I could I have assembled a list of 8 Democrats to watch in the next 8. (years that is)

Legacy Politicians

Christopher G. Kennedy-  The 8th son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, a businessman and political operative, Kennedy is mulling a run for the Illinois Senate seat currently held by Roland Burris.  With his successful business background and family legacy he'd make a formidable contender and would immediately be a big player in party politics were he to get elected.

Robin Carnahan-  In Missouri, the Carnahan's are political royalty Robin Carnahan's parents both held statewide elected office as Governor (her father) and Senator (mother) and she has been elected twice as the Secretary of State in Missouri, actually setting the record for most votes garnered for any candidate in Missouri electoral history.  Carnahan is a powerhouse in what has been a swing midwestern state and may play on the Presidential stage someday.

Beau Biden-  Well this one is obvious.  The guy is a U.S. Senator if he wants it and there's no reason he wouldn't.  His father is..........  Do I have to explain this one?

Rising Stars

Gavin Newsom-  Christian Bale's doppelganger?  The Plumpjack guy?  Mr. Gay Rights?  Yes awesome Mr. Newsom has a shot at being the next Governor of California and with his fresh brand of progressivism that is unashamed he's one to watch.  As Mayor of San Francisco Newsom has been agressive and innovative much like his approach to his successful wine business Plumpjack.  Newsom is photogenic and articulate which means national politics is on his horizon.

Corey Booker- Booker is the heir apparent.  Given, Obama has been in office for barely six months.  Obama has set a tone and made explicit his style which should allow him to win re-election and have a successful 2 terms by the time he leaves office.  When that time comes, a power vacuum will be left in the party and a mad scramble will ensue.  Booker will be the man that has to do the least scrambling.  If any politician in America is a reflection of the Obama brand on any level it would be Booker.  Booker was the "new" politician that ended up being elected to replace disgraced former Newark Mayor Sharpe James.  In his short tenure, Booker has been able to attract business to the city, cut down on crime and create a new sense of pride in the New Jersey city.  There is wide speculation that Booker will run for Governor some day (maybe in four years) or take an appointment from the President.  No matter what, Booker is the embodiment of the new politics that has swept the nation.

Artur Davis-  He's a Harvard guy, a moderate, from the south in his third term in congress.  Davis is also running for Governor of Alabama which if he wins would make him only the 5th African-American Governor in our nations History.  Davis is popular in his district and early polls show that he's a strong statewide candidate and with the support of President Obama Davis may be on his way to prominence.

Kamala Harris-  A candidate for Attorney General of California and current District Attorney for the city of San Francisco.  Harris is an interesting figure, her mother is an Indian-American and her father is Jamaican-American.  She has a strong legal record famously challenging the current Attorney General on a capital punishment case opposing the death penalty and winning.  Here is a leader with a serious future in California and maybe beyond.

This Guy Had To Be On The List

Tim Kaine-  OK so Kaine is the Governor of Virginia and the Chairman of the Democratic Party.  He was handpicked by President Obama to oversee and update the organization of the party infrastructure.  Of course, before that there was widespread speculation that he would be the Vice Presidential nominee on the party ticket all the way up to just before Joe Biden was announced.  So Kaine is already in a leadership position but what after this one?  Many a party chairman has used the connections one can build to catapult them further.  It is a fact, however, that Kaine has alread done the Governor thing and that the options he has are therefore diminished.  Still I'd watch Kaine, he may be on a national ticket yet.

Well that's my list of future power players.  I included 2 politicians from the four major regions Northeast, Midwest, South, and West and therefore did not mention all of the potential out there.  Surely my fellow TPMers have some clues on up and coming talent out there plus I'd love to know what you all think of my list.