Is Jerry Springer serious?

Former Cincinnati Mayor Jerry Springer still won't rule out a run for Ohio governor in 2006.

In an interview with MSNBC's Rita Cosby last week, Springer talked about his "stupid show" (the one on television, not his Cincinnati-based radio talk show), the legal woes of Pete Rose Jr., and the possibility that Warren Beatty might run for governor of California.

COSBY: Jerry, what about you, too? Because I know a couple of years ago you were toying with running for Senate. Is running for governor still an option in your future?

SPRINGER: Yes, I think about it. It's a possibility. What I really think about is, what if I won and it didn't make a difference? I mean, that's the thing that scares me is that you can get so caught up in the idea of running and winning.

And you have to remember: It's never about the person. It's never about the candidate. What it's really about is the people's lives who live in the state and what can be done to really make a substantive difference in the quality of their lives.

And that's what I really got to think: Could I make a difference? Because Ohio is in such horrible shape right now, whether you're talking about schools, or jobs. You know, everyone is leaving the state. You know, talk about -- Louisiana, if it's looking for an evacuation plan, should look at Ohio. We have the best evacuation plan. Everyone's left, and we didn't even have a hurricane.

(Photo by Glenn Hartong/The Cincinnati Enquirer)