One would think that the happiest person in central New York last Thursday was Daniel Maffei, who nearly defeated U.S. Rep. James Walsh, R-Onondaga, 15 months ago. Yet while his supporters might think Walsh's announcement that he would not seek an 11th term was good news for their man, it may not be. In fact it may be far from it. While the announcement may have sounded like a blow to the GOP, it could be more of a blow to Maffei.

The news on the Web about Walsh's imminent announcement last Thursday morning had hardly been posted before the jockeying started for his seat. And it is just not Republicans, it will be Democrats, who see a real opportunity to pick up the seat and add it to the Democratic column.

At least one name bandied about should cause Maffei worry- that of the man whose campaign for Syracuse mayor he successfully managed - Syracuse Mayor Matthew Driscoll. While Driscoll was quick not to jump at a run, he didn't discount it either. He chose not to run last year for Onondaga County Executive, letting that nomination go to state Assemblyman William Magnarelli. While there are Democrats who thought, at the time, the Magnarelli faction within the Onondaga County Democratic Party could have blocked a Driscoll run for county executive, that may not be the case, after his stinging loss to Republican Joanie Mahoney in November.

Democrats may also look at the chances of a Maffei run, against a yet-unnamed Republican. While it is easy to say that Maffei would have beat Walsh in a re-match - he was not a shoe-in to topple Walsh. Also, while this year there will be a focus on the national presidential race - unlike 2006, you don't have numerous statewide offices up in what was a clearly Democratic year nationally helping challengers like Maffei get turnout up.

Voters, seeing that this Congress has failed on many fronts, including pledges on a number of domestic reforms and, more importantly, those dealing with the war in Iraq, may not have the enthusiasm for Democratic challengers that they did in 2006. The result being that local Democrats may want to seriously review whether Maffei can win against who will be the eventual GOP candidate.

While Maffei can be pleased with last week's announcement that he was added to the Democratic National Congressional Committees Red To Blue program to boost his candidacy, it doesn't mean he is going to get the nomination without a fight. At this point, while Maffei might be a front-runner for the seat, don't believe that he has either the Democratic nomination sewn up, or that he can start measuring curtains for a new Capitol Hill office.

Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com