A Preview of his DPW Speech?

Evan Bayh, Democratic Senator from Indiana, has long been seen by political watcher as a possible 2008 Candidate - he's young, attractive, and until recently; seen as moderate.

Drudge links to a story in the Indianapolis Star on Bayh's 30-minute speech at a Jefferson-Jackson Dinner last night.

While not declaring his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in 2008, Bayh certainly sounded like a man seeking the hearts of the party faithful as he took the stage Saturday evening.

In a speech that lasted more than 30 minutes, he rebuked President Bush's administration on a range of issues, from the federal deficit to the need for energy independence.

"When the history of our time is written," Bayh said, "I believe this president will be judged very harshly."

Bayh said Republicans have divided the country, and Bush failed to summon Americans to "something more" following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The president, he said, should have urged people to accept potentially costly moves to lessen the country's dependence on foreign oil.

Bayh said he would have made such a request "if I'd been president of the United States at that time."

Massive budget deficits threaten future generations, Bayh said, before accusing Bush of not doing enough to respond to the unfair trade actions of other nations.

"We need a government that will stand by our workers," he said, offering a message for unions, a key base of any national Democrat's candidacy. ". . . We need a government that will do something other than roll over and let them down."

Pointing to the Republican Party's symbol, Bayh joked, "The elephant always leads to some unpleasant stuff that you have to clean up."

Bayh will be the keynote speaker at this upcoming weekend's State Democratic Party Convention in Oshkosh. With Wisconsin's continued status as a swing-state ever more prevalent, his every word will be watched.