Where Angels Fear to Tread

When it comes to succeeding Joe Biden in the Senate, my rule of thumb is that those who know aren't talking, and those who are talking don't know. The conclusion of this syllogism is that I didn't know anything when I went on the air (with some trepidation) to discuss the subject with Allan Loudell of WDEL this evening.
We've been presented with a couple of tea leaves to ponder in the last day or so. Jack Markell and Matt Denn rescheduled their swearing in to 12:01 AM on January 20, not wanting to compete with the Obama/Biden blockbuster the same day. Markell and Denn will hold a public ceremony the following day. But for those examining the tea leaves for clues, it does give Biden the option of whether to have the outgoing or incoming governor make the appointment.
If John Carney is the pick, which is what most Democrats would like to see, it wouldn't make any difference who makes the pick. Actually, I haven't talked to anyone in the Democratic Party who doesn't think that Carney is the natural pick.
As Allan points out in his blog, Carney may have helped himself by saying in the News Journal that he'd accept the job, even for just a couple of years:

"I would take it if offered under any circumstances," including a two-year stint "if that's what was contemplated by those who made the decision."

Being a senator for two years isn't such a bad deal when you consider that the best vantage from which to run for the Senate is as one of the 100 member of the exclusive club.
As for Beau Biden, he did the right thing when he declared that he would not consider being called back from his tour of duty to fill his father's seat. Beau clearly has a bright future ahead of him, and has time to build a career in elected office when he comes back from Iraq and finishes his first term as attorney general.