She is smart, I'll give her that!

Napolitano avoids Dean during Phoenix visit

And wisely so:

The Democratic governor has thrived politically in Republican-oriented Arizona by appealing to moderate voters and portraying herself as a pro-business, centrist. Napolitano is up for re-election next year and could face a challenge from U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona or Marilyn Quayle, the wife of former vice president Dan Quayle.

The governor has avoided getting mixed in with the more left-wing, Michael Moore/MoveOn factions of the Democratic Party. Napolitano did not endorse Dean or another Democratic presidential hopeful last year until after Sen. John Kerry won the Arizona primary and had essentially secured the nomination.

Dean rallied Democratic partisans during his Phoenix visit on Wednesday, trying to boost their spirits after Bush and the GOP carried the state in November. The DNC chair has visited a number of GOP "red states" since taking over as party chief executive earlier this year.
The DNC chair advocated universal health coverage and criticized the Bush administration for proposed Social Security privatization, budget deficits and tax cuts for the wealthy.

Dean called the GOP a "corrupt party' but lauded Republican Sen. John McCain for opposing conservative efforts to chain Senate filibuster rules in order to get votes on Bush judicial nominees.

In this state he'd get her killed. Figuratively speaking.

The GOP doesn't have a candidate yet for '06 and there are folks like me, staunchly conservative and inclined to vote Republican but who also have no reason to actively dislike Napolitano. Seeing her holding hands on-stage with the likes of Governor Scream would give GOP voters like me a reason to blind-vote Republican in year-and-a-half.

She's no dummy.