A political poll and a poster at Lance's hometown paper

Interviewed Monday on the “Today” show on NBC, the Statesman notes, Armstrong first said “no,” then backed off when asked if he'd seek public office.

“I don't know what I'm saying. We're going to elect a new governor next year —  I'm not running next year.”

The Statesman, which figures Armstrong would run as a Democrat, then asks who would the Republican's put up against him? Texas baseball legend Nolan Ryan.

So the Statesman created a poll; who would you pick for Texas governor. Armstrong vs. Ryan. “It could be seven Tour de France titles vs. seven no-hitters. Fastballs vs. fast bikes.”

I never much paid attention to Armstrong's politics. Being that he's from Texas, I guess I'd just assume he's a Republican. But Armstrong makes his home in Austin now, and Travis County was an island of blue in a sea of red in last year's presidential election.

The Supreme Irony blog asks, “Is Lance a Closet Lefty?” The blogger quotes from a USA Today interview:

“Funding is tough to come by these days,” he says. “The biggest downside to a war in Iraq is what you could do with that money. What does a war in Iraq cost a week? A billion? Maybe a billion a day? The budget for the National Cancer Institute is four billion. That has to change. It needs to become a priority again. Polls say people are much more afraid of cancer than of a plane flying into their house or a bomb or any other form of terrorism. It is a priority for the American public.”

If he does identify as a Democrat, Supreme Irony says, then he may be a Texas Democrat. “Not exactly the most liberal leaning crowd.”

Meanwhile, the Austin American Statesman is making available a poster that displays its front pages from the seven years that Armstrong won the Tour de France. If you feel like parting with $24.95 for seven reprints on a 20 by 30 poster, the Armstrong poster can be ordered online at Photoshowcase Photos.