What's next for Jon Scott?

Jon Scott was the far more credible of the challengers to US Representative Patrick J. Kennedy last fall. I've had the opportunity to speak with him since, and Jon is a bright guy with a strong measure of interest in public service. Earlier this week, Tom over at RI Report theorized that Scott may challenge US Senator Jack Reed when the Democrat comes up for reelection:

With Jack Reed up for reelection next year, the state GOP will need to field a candidate who will be more than a ballot-filler in order to begin to establish itself as a credible political entity. And right now, the field is wide open with the only other possible names being floated by Republican insiders as those of former Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedesian. However, with a primary loss to Linc Chafee in hand and already an early GOP frontrunner for governor in 2010, a Laffey loss to Reed in the general election would be extremely costly to a candidate whose critics maintain cannot win a state-wide election. Meanwhile Avedesian, who has been reluctant to step up as a candidate for higher office in the past would likely also avoid a match-up against Reed, who has become the state’s most respected and senior politician.

Scott, on the other hand, has nothing to lose and if would provide an energetic and visible GOP challenge at the top of state party’s ticket.

Why lose to a congressman when you can lose to a senator?

A loss, indeed, would be the all-but-certain outcome, since Reed is routinely Rhode Island's most popular elected official. I agree with Matt that Scott would be better-served by establishing more credentials, perhaps with a run for a lower office. The RI GOP seriously needs to develop its farm team, and it doesn't help when would-be hopefuls run quixotic campaigns.