Washington in 60 Seconds: David Vitter Draws a Challenger Who Is Not a Stripper . . . and Other News

Good morning, Capitolists! It's the last day before this Capitolist calls it a month and hits the road for a week of surf lessons. So soak up the goodness of today's W-I-60-S, because you might miss it when it's gone.

Here's what's making news in Washington today:

* The Obama family is still on vacation on Martha's Vineyard, but the president will go to Boston tomorrow to deliver the eulogy at the Ted Kennedy funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. It's a tall order, so Obama is already working on the speech. USA Today has the deets.

* Vice President Biden is in Boston and will speak at the Kennedy memorial service, which starts at 7 tonight.

* Nothing says "man of the people" like an escape plan and half a dozen plainclothes police officers ready to whisk a congressman away from constituents, just in case. The Hill reports that was Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) Plan B that he had devised for a recent town-hall meeting. Luckily for him and his posse, the meeting went so well a constituent suggested he run for president. And why not? He's already got the detail.

* Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) officially has a challenger -- and it's not Stormy Daniels, adult entertainer-turned-politician. Rep. Charlie Melancon, co-chair of the moderate Blue Dog Democrats group in the House, announced yesterday that he's running for Vitter's Senate seat in 2010. Melancon, whose wife is named Peachy, told the New Orleans Times-Picayune he's running to "restore honor to the office."

* Speaking of challengers, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn) has them coming from all sides and learned yesterday that the Teamsters aren't too happy either. Bloomberg reports they may not support his bid for re-election until he's less squishy on the Employee free Choice Act, a bill to loosen secret ballot rules in union elections. James Hoffa said of Specter, "It's time for him to stand up."

* And finally, we don't know what this is, but if it tickles your fancy, head on over to this event in downtown Washington today: The Pray at the Pump Movement holds a "Life Saving Bone Marrow Drive" to honor singer Michael Jackson. Mmm-kay?