Burlington businessman, philanthropist and political neophyte Richard Tarrant has decided not to seek the Republican nomination for the unenviable task of trying to unseat Patrick Leahy. This leaves only Jack McMullen to mount what appears to be only token opposition to Leahy's re-election bid.
It also leaves Tarrant available to take a shot at Jim Jeffords seat in 2006. I suppose his prime opposition for the nomination then would be Governor Jim Douglas, should he lose his job this year, or Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie. Jeffords will be 74 in 2006. He has not let his intentions be known. Should Jeffords retire, we might see a Tarrant vs. Dean race.