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Washington Prowler

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Over the weekend, Frist was down in South Carolina, speaking before the South Carolina Republican state executive committee, and attending a couple of fundraisers on Friday and Saturday night for his VolPAC leadership PAC.

Reports out of South Carolina had Frist's speech lacking in political red meat and applause lines, but that appears to be part of the strategy as Frist decides what he will do upon retirement in less than a year.

Frist continues to travel the country, raising money for Republican candidates and his own leadership PAC at a clip that is rivaled only by Sen. John McCain, so his standing has not diminished among the Republican donor base. In fact, the only candidate who could challenge McCain among slightly more moderate Republicans -- on such issues as stem-cell research -- and still have some standing with conservatives is Frist.

There are some murmurs that Frist should take some time off, and perhaps -- if he wants to stay in politics -- look at the Tennessee gubernatorial race in a few years. But 2008 is far enough away, and his retirement will give him enough distance to make a decision outside of the Washington media arena. Which is one reason outside advisers continue to keep an organization in place should he decide to run.

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John McCain, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Business, Law, NATO