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Item: John Welty's wife is a finalist to become the dean of education at Cal Poly, Pomona. Could this be a signal that Welty will step down as Fresno State president and take a high-ranking job with the California State University system in Long Beach?

Analysis: It's too early to determine what's going on behind the scenes. It could be that Sharon Brown-Welty, a professor and administrator at Fresno State, is simply interested in advancing her career -- and the couple is willing to maintain dual households until John Welty retires after the university's centennial in 2011.

But one scenario has John Welty leaving Fresno State before 2011 and accepting a system position in Long Beach. If this is what Chancellor Charles B. Reed has in mind, Cal Poly, Pomona President Michael Ortiz could sweeten the offer by hiring Sharon Brown-Welty, who is 6 years younger than her husband.

Another thing to consider: Ortiz, a former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Fresno State, might have designs on succeeding John Welty. If Ortiz does have such ambitions, his hiring of Brown-Welty could be the kind of favor to Reed and John Welty that gives him a leg up on the competition for the Fresno State presidency.

On the net: John McCain's latest campaign commercial paints Barack Obama as a mere celebrity ala Britney Spears and suggests that Obama is unqualified to lead the United States through tough times. You can see the ad here. ABC's analysis of McCain's negative ads is available here.

Quote of the Day: "Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten."
-- B. F. Skinner (1904-90), celebrated American psychologist