Romney Camp Claims Giuliani Is No Longer GOP Favorite

Those familiar with the conversations Mark Warner has had with past and potential advisers insist that the former governor is not interviewing people for specific jobs but rather sounding out savvy strategists about which race is the better fit for him.

Warner is, without question, the Democrats' strongest candidate for either contest. He left office in 2005 with sky-high approval ratings and quickly transitioned to what looked like a certain presidential bid in 2008. Warner abruptly ended that speculation in late 2006, removing himself from consideration.

Judging from his recent spate of conversations, however, it is clear Warner wants back in. And soon.

Players

Former senator Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) may not formally announce for president until September, but he continues to add senior staff to his campaign-

staff-in-waiting.

The latest hire is Linda Rozett, who will start as communications director for the campaign tomorrow. Rozett comes from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she served as vice president for media relations. Before joining the chamber in 1999, Rozett worked for several trade associations and also spent more than a decade as a broadcast journalist -- doing stints as a producer for ABC's "World News Tonight" and "Good Morning America."

Rozett joins two Capitol Hill veterans -- Robert Traynham and Burson Snyder -- on Thompson's communications team. Traynham served as a longtime spokesman and adviser to former senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) while Snyder served as communications director for House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).