Remember in 2004 when Tom Daschle dramatically announced that he would not run for President. Instead, he vowed to focus on leading the minority in the Senate to victory in 2004. We all know what happened instead- Daschle lost his seat to the much taller John Thune and now he works at a Starbucks in South Dakota.

But for real, what would the man who literally rolled over and played dead to George W. Bush after 9-11 and in the lead-up to the Iraq war be doing now?

THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, OF COURSE. Come on, is this a joke…

Leaving aside the plausibility question, is the former maj./min. leader, who heads to IA, NH and MI beginning June 9, a Gingrich-esque book-deal flirter? A Gore-esque monocausual promotion whiz?

Or is he soberly considering a bid for the presidency?

Based on what he’s told his close friends, he’s clenched-jaw serious.

And Daschle’s decision will be guided, in part, on the results of the contested ‘06 primaries that Daschle, unlike most would-be ‘08ers, has waded into.