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Perhaps proving once and for all that the Democratic party is secretly controlled by a cadre of giggling Republican Congressional interns, the Washington Post's Reliable Source column reports that Virginia Dems might want to recruit high-profile John Kerry baby-eater Ben Affleck (who's apparently looking for a place to live in the Charlottesville area) for a Senate run:

If you liked him as Bennifer . . . you'll love him as Benator!

That's the hot new idea being tossed around by Virginia Democrats, who are desperately searching for a big name to challenge the reelection bid of rising GOP star Sen. George Allen next year, now that outgoing Gov. Mark Warner has ducked out. [...]

Affleck spokesman Ken Sunshine said the rumors are baseless, though "he would be a superb candidate for public office in the future. Right now, he's very busy directing his first feature movie for Disney, 'Gone, Baby, Gone.' "

That's the mark of a good publicist: A strong denial, but one that allows for the possibility of a radical career change once the client's transition from actor to director fails spectacularly. We can't wait for Affleck's first appearance on C-Span, when he livens up the dreary proceedings by puckishly draping the Benitals over Trent Lott's shoulder.