Most insiders are assuming that Republican Lt. Governor Phil Scott has no burning desire to stick out his political neck to run for Governor against Peter Shumlin, and will instead leave that to the likes of Auditor Salmon or Barre Mayor Lauzon (excuse me just a moment whilst I clean my monitor of the spittle generated by my hysterical laughter after typing that sentence). Of course, that also raises the issue of whether a Democrat may emerge to run against Scott for Lite Guv next yesr?

It’s a face-saving conceit that it’s too early to be talking seriously about running for Lieutenant Governor – except, of course, that it’s not. In fact, now is the time (after the first session of the biennium) when interested folks should start getting their names into trial-balloon circulation.

But there’s nary a peep. I’ve heard a couple names tossed out in a speculative manner, but they sound more like wishful thinking on behalf of the speculators, rather than actual buzz based on any meaningful talk.

The problem is, the incumbent is a tough opponent for any Democrat. One Statehouse insider joked to me that no one would want the “suicide mission” of running against him.

Scott comes in with a lot of advantages that are very, very hard to overcome in one of the “minor” statewide contests that don’t bring in a lot of earned media and money. He’s likable and liked, moderate, willing to work with people, and is a minor celebrity already, given his racing career. He tried on the role of angry partisan chest-thumper during the Senate’s vote on Vermont Yankee last year, but then left the role by the roadside when it wasn’t a good fit. He’s also the incumbent, and will have the name recognition thing all over any opponent.

Scott’s already the kind of opponent that takes a little more than just a by-the-numbers electoral effort. Steve Howard did that last year; organization, voter ID, message work, earned media, fundraising – and he did as well as could be expected. To beat Scott, a Democrat is going to have to bring something out-of-the-box to the table in an effort to catch fire. And he or she is going to have to raise a lot of money to keep the fires burning. (And yes, that’s a lot of mixed metaphors for a mere two sentences).

It can be done, but the question is: do any of our current crop of D’s in the political mix have what it takes to do it? If not, who goes out there just to make sure Scott is challenged so he doesn’t become a political juggernaut and simply graduate to the Governor’s position when the current Dem retires (as what happened with Jim Douglas, who went unchallenged in his final run as Treasurer).

So – who are you hearing, and barring that, who would you like to hear releasing trial balloons?