Sarah Palin

The dust has barely settled on the 2008 elections -- in fact, in a few Senate and House contests, ballots are still being counted -- but possible presidential contenders are already building foundations they will need to put them ahead of the pack in time for the 2012 Iowa caucuses, a scant 38 months away. For Republicans, the early key to success is holding a governorship, and at least half a dozen chief executives are expected to at least consider a bid for president.

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Related:

• View a slideshow of cartoons from election day
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CARTOONING THE ELECTION

WBZ-TV political guru Jon Keller took a moment on his blog Sunday to examine how Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has avoided some of the baby-boom generation Democratic pitfalls Keller chronicles in his book "The Bluest State: How Democrats Created the Massachusetts Blueprint or American Political Disaster."

First, Keller says the Illinois Democrat's campaign avoided the typical baby boomer liberal "indifference - or even outright hostility" toward voters who are reluctant to pay higher taxes. Obama carefully avoided being labeled a "tax and spend liberal," Keller noted, "albeit through a transparently phony tax cut plan for ‘95% of Americans' and a pledge to go over the federal budget ‘line by line,' a fairly useless exercise given the president's lack of a line-item veto to reign in the earmarking orgy that will surely be given fresh lubrication by the defeat of the anti-earmark [Republican nominee] John McCain."

Keller also wrote that Obama's tax plan took a hit when he told the now-famous Joe "the Plumber" Wurzelbacher that he will "spread the wealth around," evoking the idea of a tax and spend Democrat. Nevertheless, Obama gained voters' confidence by staying calm and collected during the Wall Street meltdown and avoided the harsh partisanship on the issue that has plagued other Democrats.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry responded to Republican challenger Jeff Beatty's criticism Sunday, blasting Beatty for not offering a vision for the future of the country.

In an email to PolitickerMA.com, Brigid O'Rourke, a spokeswoman for the Boston Democrat, said Beatty has focused more on personal attacks than on offering his own policy proposals.

"Instead of worrying about prom dates, Jeff should just focus on his own campaign and start talking about what he stands for, because most Massachusetts voters still don't know," O'Rourke said. "Jeff has no clear stances on critical issues like providing health care to Americans, improving education, fixing our economy, or even taxes. All Jeff has been clear on is his support for guns in our schools, his reckless plan to drill our way to energy independence, and the fact that he is a faithful supporter of George Bush and the McCain-Palin ticket."

The Politico has this post about a mailer that has hit Maine mailboxes, targeting sportsmen.

The mailer features Todd Palin, husband to vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, warning that Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s environmental policies would end snowmobiling in national parks.

“John McCain and Sarah Palin have long been advocates to protect our environment with practical standards – allowing Americans to continue enjoying outdoor recreational activities. Snowmobilers will have a strong voice in the White House.”

With both campaigns making their final push for Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes, the vice-presidential nominees will be here Thursday.

Democrat Joe Biden will hold rallies in Williamsport and Allentown. Republican Sarah Palin will be in Erie before also visiting Williamsport. She is scheduled to stay in the state Friday for events in York and Latrobe.

Most polls have Barack Obama and the Democratic ticket leading John McCain and Palin by double-digits.