First, Schiff is an established officeholder whose state Senate district includes all of the congressional district.

CNN: Treen, Vitter to face-off for Louisiana House seat

It is very rare for a first-term officeholder to lose a bid for renomination in his own party.

CNN: Play Of The Week

It was disclosed in court Tuesday that a "political activist" who was not an officeholder was also on Mulqueen's list.

WSJ: NY man admits threatening pols' lives on Facebook

Such traits might not make for a beloved officeholder, but they could have a certain utility in a political campaign.

NEWYORKER: Mayberry Man

"Chris is under fire both for the top job in the transition and for secretary of state, " this informant, one of the Democratic Party's most respected Jewish leaders and a former high officeholder, told us.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Another Saddam In Syria?

Journalists whose writings displease such a politician are cut off from the flow of information, for example, by not being invited into the officeholder's house for the informal evening chats where selected tidbits of information are handed out like candies.

FORBES: Hold the presses