Think the Democratic nomination race has been lengthy? Well, it's got nothing on the length of the fuse that Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German has lit this morning - and this battle is unlikely to have a Jeremiah Wright to liven things up.
October 12 is the day that Mr German will be prised away from his plush Cardiff Bay leader's office, having announced that he will stand down following the party's autumn conference in Clydach. Selflessly, he agreed to stay on in his role after being requested to allow the party to complete a review of the constitution.
“I have received a request from party officers that I should allow the party to complete the President’s review of the constitution – including the rules for electing the leaders of the party – before I resign as leader.
“I have taken soundings within the party and the Assembly group, and feel this is a sensible way forward.
“I said earlier in the year that I would stand down when it was sensible and practical to do so, and having received this request from the party’s senior officers, I have decided that I will resign following the debate on the constitution at our Autumn Conference.”
In his letter to Mr German requesting he stayed on, John Last, chair of the party's NEC, fretted "I think the Party would attract unnecessary criticism both internally and externally if you resigned before the Party has resolved this constitutional matter", in a somewhat endearing overstatement of the interest of those outside the party in the internal constitutional make-up of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
Still, back to that leadership contest. The trigger will be officially fired on October 12 - and "a contested election is unlikely to be shorter than seven weeks" - but expect interested parties to start manoeuvring into position now. Early favourite here is a Jenny Randerson (Cardiff Central) v Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) battle with Randerson emerging victorious. But hacks note Eleanor Burnham (North Wales), the woman with a rainbow coalition in her hair, made a rare foray into the press room at the Senedd yesterday to say hello. The betting starts now...