Just cleaning up my e-mail and came across this tidbit from the National Lieutenant Governors Association from last week -- offering cautious hope to Brian Dubie.

According to research going back 100 years, the office of lieutenant governor in states where it exists was the springboard for one in four politicians who became governors. Check out the study here.

The last lieutenant governor to move to the Vermont's top job was Howard Dean, but his ascension came under tragic circumstances. Gov. Richard Snelling had collapsed and died, forcing Dean to step up.Richard Snelling's wife, Barbara, became lieutenant governor in 1992 and was ready to make a run for the top office in 1996, only to be struck down by a stroke.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Doug Racine tried to move up in 2002, but lost to a treasurer -- Republican Jim Douglas.

Obviously, the stepping stone isn't a sure path, but some ambitious politicians -- such as Peter Shumlin, Cheryl Rivers and Matt Dunne, who all ran unsuccessfully for the job -- certainly must have believed in the odds. The current office holder, Republican Brian Dubie, may as well. Why else run for this strange office that is part just-in-case understudy for the governor's job, part traffic cop for Senate floor action and then whatever else a lieutenant governor wants to make of the job?

-- Nancy Remsen