At the very beginning of today's press conference, it was disclosed that Tony Snow would be stepping down as Press Secretary on September 14th, being replaced by longtime deputy press secretary Dana Perino.  When Tony did start fielding questions, there was one interchange that showed the class of Tony Snow, and why he will be missed very much at the White House.

It was a very interesting political day. Not only did Snow announce, but Virginia Senator John Warner announced he would not seek re-election, and the rumors grew that disgraced Idaho Senator Larry Craig would announce his immediate resignation tomorrow.

What now will Tony do?  He responded to health questions by saying he received his last scheduled chemo treatment about two weeks ago, the cancer is in check, and he feels good.  He hinted that a lecture circuit was in the offing, as is a book or two, maybe some radio and TV.  But as Fred Barnes has proposed, and we continue to encourage from afar, Tony needs to go ahead and make a few speeches, but he needs to seriously consider a run for Warner's seat in the Senate. 

Tony possesses a skill set that would make him, as Washington Post columnist Jeffrey Birnbaum called him just a little bit ago on the Hugh Hewitt Show, "a spectacular Senator," high praise from a Beltway pundit.  He knows Virginia, knows how to do politics as well as anyone in the upper chamber, and as he showed in this clip from today, he can think and talk on his feet, alternating between grace and eloquence, and still mix it up on the issues without getting personal.  One of the marks of a good Senator is being able to take a hammer to the foot of your opponent, but do it with a smile on your face and yet remaining collegial enough about it to be able to work with your opponent down the road when you're invetibably going to need him or her.  Tony Snow has spent his time at the White House dealing daily with an ideologically hostile White House press corps, not giving an inch on core political issues, but yet still maintaining his friendship with many off the members of the corps.  

I understand Tony was seen at Fox News a few weeks ago, and according to Mort Kondracke and Birnbaum today, he was asked about a possible run, and said it's not going to happen.  But that was before the announcement today by Warner.  From a skill set standpoint, Tony Snow would be as natural of a Senator as this country has seen in a very long time.  The path to the Senate would be challenging, but certainly not impossible.  Tom Davis, the moderate Congressman, is likely to run for the seat, but the conservative support would go to Snow if he got into the game.  Tony's got to take another look at the opportunity now that Warner is retiring.

Shakespeare wrote in Twelfth Night, "Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."  Tony, be not afraid.  Greatness is calling.