“Without Coleman in the race,” writes the Washington Post, “the open seat contest to replace retiring Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is pursuing a run for the Republican presidential nomination, will be a far more low-key affair without any of the national attention that a candidacy by the controversial Coleman would have caused.”

Shhhh.

So, who is going to step in? Politics in Minnesota says, “Norm Coleman’s surprise announcement that he won’t be running for governor, combined with Rep. Marty Seifert’s (R-Marshall) self-proclaimed status as the front runner in the contest for the GOP endorsement, mean that the guy in the race to watch right now is Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Delano).”

But MNPublius’s Matt Martin isn’t buying it. “Seifert’s going to be the guy because he’s been working harder, hustling better, and just plain seems to want it more.”

But what about Tom Horner? “The GOP candidates are far-right, the DFL will go to a primary, and now there’s no alternative in Norm Coleman: Horner’s a bright guy and I’m sure he realizes this is the best shot an IP candidate will have in a long while.”

What do you think? How is this all going to play out?

Dude 1: Yeah, the team, the coach and especially the janitors hate him more and more every day. There’s no point in continuing this. He’s really pulling a Norm Coleman.