The first man out of the gate last week in the 2008 presidential race was ... Tom Vilsack.

Who? He's a largely unknown Democratic governor who heads the centrist Democratic Leadership Counsel. At first blush his is a resume reminiscent of a Clinton, Bill Clinton. Bill was, of course, the DLC's guy -- the epitome of the corporate-friendly third-way New Democrat. His two terms helped the DLC reshape and re-brand the party.

The DLC's influence...