Is Mike planning an exit?

Today Crikey tells of a rumour doing the rounds in Adelaide and Canberra.

It appears that while Mike Rann has been happy to lead the ALP into the next South Australian state election, some six months ago when all the news about his alleged affair with a parliamentary bar worker broke (Michelle who?) he was on the verge of quitting politics altogether. That was while Kevin Foley, Rann's obvious successor, was in the middle of his own navel-gazing phase.

Rann was apparently talked out of it by Kevin Rudd but was told if he led the ALP to a state election victory, he'd be given an out and Rudd would appoint him to an ambassadorial role. And what plumb job is about to come up for grabs? None other than the current role of Australia's Ambassador to Italy held by another South Australian, ex-Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone, whose three-year terms finishes in July 2010.

The Rome option story is doing the rounds of DFAT and among some ALP circles. Rann has apparently had enough and wants out. Foley is raring to take over. Maybe someone should ask Rann the simple question: do you intend to lead the ALP for the next four years?