I don’t know if Bev Perdue has ever entertained the notion of appearing on “Dancing with the Stars,” but she has shown some pretty deft footwork in the last couple of weeks.

It started with her announcement about reorganizing state government. She could have presented her entire plan for reformation, but she is smart enough to know that every lobbyist worth his or her salt would quickly pour that salt on any mention of killing their pet program. So she’s going to bundle everything together and put it in her budget. Her plan, good or bad, is still going to take a lot of hits, but she will be able to tell her detractors that she balanced the budget. If they have different ideas, show us their balanced budget.

Playing the female version of David going into the camp of the Philistines, Perdue ventured into the Republican legislative caucus, her trusty sling shot at her side, calling the GOP bluff on an independent redistricting commission and forcing them to confess whether they favor the concept because it promoted good government or was just a political ploy against Democrats. The GOP response, that there isn’t time to move on this idea, rings about as hollow as excuses Democrats have used for not doing as they ought. So, too, was their lame retort that Perdue had not supported the concept while she was a Senator, Lieutenant Governor or Governor. She caught them off guard and it showed.

Perdue wasn’t finished, urging the new Republican leadership to set limits for legislative sessions. Now the shoe is on the other foot and the new leaders are already saying session limits won’t work, refusing to acknowledge that other states manage to work within them. Next, Perdue set up the Republicans for a scolding if they don’t allow more sunshine in the budget process than their Democratic predecessors.

But even the old curmudgeon British judge (on Dancing with the Stars) had to give Madame Guv a solid “10” score for announcing she would oppose any tax increases next year. If the legislature happens to raise a tax or two they will be blamed; if they don’t she can boast they just followed her leadership. Checkmate.

Governor Perdue has not distinguished herself for clever political moves the first two years of her administration, but she put on her dancin’ shoes and performed a fancy step or two. Like Bill Clinton she is moving to the middle and seeking compromise with Republicans. If she is successful she can run for re-election demonstrating her prowess at governing during these difficult times. If the GOP leadership won’t cooperate she has set the stage to run against them in 2012. It could be a very viable reelection strategy.

It is beginning to look like 2011 might be a pretty interesting year for those of us who depend on politicians to have something to talk about.