Jericho town Dems anticipating Symington's House departure

Here's another sign that Vermont House Speaker Gaye Symington is gearing up for a gubernatorial run. At a meeting of Democrats in the town of Jericho earlier this week, a discussion about upcoming House races apparently had one foregone conclusion: Symington wouldn't be remaining in the House.

The meeting gives added fire to the fact that Symington, a Democrat, is likely to announce a challenge to Republican Gov. Jim Douglas soon. Rumors have been swirling for weeks and this only adds to the speculation.

Symington had been feeling pressure from inside her own caucus about a lack of legislative victories despite the Democrats' substantial majority. The race to replace the speaker already brewing and with no solid candidate to challenge Douglas yet for the Democrats, it seems more and more likely that Symington will be a candidate for governor.