Mrs. Sebelius Goes to Washington

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) has reportedly accepted President Obama's offer to become his Secretary of Health and Human Services. This was not unexpected, as The New York Times reported ten days ago that she was the all-but-certain nominee.

Nevertheless, this is a big blow to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee--as they hoped that Sebelius would run for her state's open Senate seat in 2010. She was the Democrats' only hope of winning the seat (a Research 2000 poll even showed her leading the two Republican candidates--Reps. Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt--by double-digits), and now it is safe to say that the seat will stay in the GOP's hands.

Now, the August 3 primary between Moran and Tiahrt--which is expected to be highly competitive--will be "the de facto general election," as Taniel of Campaign Diaries puts it. I will have more on that primary battle in the months to come.