Despite costing us the Super Bowl, Boston is Mayor Tom Menino's city to lose. Given relative peace and prosperity, and the incredible challenge of defeating an incumbent, Menino will likely decide when and how his tenure as mayor comes to an end. Still, a rival politician can dream.

The Globe today details three people who are weighing a run for mayor in 2009:
--City Councilor at Large Michael Flaherty, 38, who's been having low-key "kitchen table" forums with voters
--City Councilor John M. Tobin, Jr., also 38, who is probably in if Menino doesn't run
--Former district attorney Ralph Martin, 55, who has been out of politics recently but has strong business ties

Unless Menino relinquishes his position, it's a moot point. It'd be very difficult to run against a sitting mayor as strong as him. But if it was someone from outside the City Hall power structure, who didn't have to worry about reprisals, it'd become much more feasible. Someone who could challenge Menino from the left, someone charismatic, someone who could self-finance a campaign--and has strong ties to the Puerto Rican community.

That's right: Ben Affleck. Though the Dorchester vote may have been jeopardized.