Alabama is a great place to compete. The atmosphere should be fantastic as they have some of the largest and most appreciative crowds in the country.

Nicole is especially stunning on this event. People are really going to be impressed with her skill selection; her routine has multiple releases and unique stalder work.

There is nothing more exciting than that .. to compete at home, in a spectacular venue like Maples Pavilion in front of friends and family.

Virginia, being a red state, has seen moderate candidates like Mark Warner - like Harris Miller sort of appears to be, in the early stages - see some success. James Webb is almost carrying that trend even further - as a former Republican administration official, as a person with a strong military background. It's something that has worked for Democrats so far - but he has to figure out a way to convince Democratic voters that he can be the one who gets the job done.

I was well-read but perhaps that only made me stupid.

There are too many years around this table, too much time confined in one place.