Carpetbagger vs. Carpet Bomber?

Tongues are wagging that Colin Powell will challenge Hillary Clinton for her senate seat in 2006. From the NYDN:

"This is an idea that has great potential," newly minted state GOP chairman Steve Minarik told the Daily News last night. "Colin Powell would have tremendous star quality, and I plan to talk to him about this."

Minarik noted that Powell is a New York City native, while Clinton is a transplanted former First Lady with no roots in the state.

A Clinton-Powell contest would be the political equivalent of a heavyweight title fight. Clinton is popular in New York but is loathed in the "red" states, while Powell is widely admired and respected nationwide and around the globe.

Apparently the GOP is trying to hinder Clinton's 2008 presidential bid by defeating her in 2006. Why? If Clinton wins the Democratic nomination in '08, Republicans won't even have to rig the election that year. Unless Clinton makes Bill her VP and then promises to resign once in office, there is absolutely no way she can win.