CA-36: Harman's Job Plans

In the Washington Post, Lois Romano gossips her way through a piece on the rivalry between Jane Harman and Nancy Pelosi, and Harman's residual anger over being passed over as chair of the House Intelligence Committee. But there's a little nugget in there:

She has lamented that Congress has lost its luster for her and that she is hoping for a job in a Democratic administration, according to a friend. "She's obsessed," the source said. "It's been hard for her not to take it personally, but it's over."

I don't know if this means that Harman won't seek re-election: she likely wants to be in some official position of power. But she'd leap at the chance to join a Democratic Administration and vacate her Congressional seat, setting up a special election. Progressives obviously have a strong infrastructure in this district: Marcy Winograd received nearly 40% of the vote in a primary challenge. Perhaps there won't be a need for any more primary fights.

It also begs the question of whether Harman is really the best choice for what would almost certainly be an intelligence-related post under a Democratic President.