A reader notes an interesting alignment of events and forces…

Suppose Rudy Giuliani were to win the Republican nomination, and pick Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour as his running mate – shoring up the South, social conservatives, and spotlighting, “the governor who rose to the occasion during Hurricane Katrina”, etc. (Remember the theory that the running mate ought to reinforce the nominee’s strongest qualities – in Rudy’s case, the argument would be that he and Barbour are cool heads and firm hands in a crisis.)

Congressman Chip Pickering of Mississippi might be ready to step into any gap left by Barbour suddenly going to live at the Naval Observatory in Washington:

When Rep. Chip Pickering leaves Congress, he’ll have enough campaign cash to ensure his retirement from politics isn’t permanent. According to his filings with the Federal Election Commission, Mississippi’s 3rd District Republican congressman had $870,979 in his campaign account on June 30.…Pickering press secretary Brian Perry said the lawmaker will donate some of his campaign cash to Republican candidates and Republican Party organizations.“But he will keep most of it for future opportunities,” Perry said.Pickering once considered running for Sen. Thad Cochran’s seat when Mississippi’s senior senator retired. But Cochran has not decided whether to run again next year. Pickering’s stated desire to spend more time with his family in rural Madison County indicates he’s likely to be leaning toward running for governor in 2011.