Congressman Peter Welch was running yesterday, and it wasn't for re-election.
Instead, the first-term House member was competing in the annual charity run in the nation's capital for folks from all three branches of government and the fourth estate -- the media. The event was staged by the American Council of Life Insurers, a trade association that represents the insurance industry on Capitol Hill.
Welch and a team from his office did okay, actually more than okay. Welch himself did the three miles in 22:39 and finished 119th out of more than 600 racers. Hey, he got 3rd place in his age group.
BTW, he's 61 tomorrow, so happy B-day, Pete.
As for the four-person Welch team, who ran under the name the VerMonsters, it finished 6th overall among teams from the U.S. House.
Clearly Welch, a regular jogger, was up for the race yesterday. He's appears ready to go on a re-election run too this fall, and it's a good bet he'll leave his competitors in the dust. Anyone heard who the GOP offer plans to trot out to run against him?
-- Sam Hemingway