In a surprising move, US Senator Evan Bayh resigns from office, opening up speculation and an opportunity for the GOP to pick up another seat...
The Democrats today suffered a further blow in the runup to the midterm Congressional elections after another of the party's senators, Evan Bayh of Indiana, announced he will stand down.
The resignation greatly weakens the Democrats' chances of holding on to the seat, which will now become a prime target of the Republican campaign to win back control of the Senate in November.
Bayh, a former state governor who was considered a possible vice-presidential running mate for Barack Obama, denied that his decision not to run again after 12 years in the Senate was prompted by the declining popularity of the Democrats amid continuing popular disillusionment over the economy.
But it will contribute to the perception that the party is on the retreat as he becomes the fifth Democratic party senator to stand down, while others are fighting to retain seats that they won four years ago.
...and it now appears to be much more than a "perception" that the Democrats are in "retreat." With moderate voices in the Democratic Party, like Bayh, abandoning the battle-field, it will make it much harder for Obama, Reed, Pelosi and the Congressional Left, to pass their radical agenda. The story continues...
Bayh, 54, had until recently been favoured to retain his seat. Opinion polls showed that he remained personally popular with Indiana voters, after winning re-election in 2006 with 60% of the vote, and he had a large election campaign fund put at about $13m.
But Bayh's standing had eroded recently amid a wider backlash against the Democrats, principally driven by the continuing economic depression, that cost the party what had been considered the safe Senate seat for Massachusetts last month.
Bayh said that his desire to serve in Congress had "waned". He denied that he was leaving because of the Democrats' declining popularity and instead blamed the frustration of partisan political gridlock.
"There is too much partisanship and not enough progress – too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving. Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples' business is not being done," he said. The Democrats are defending a 59-41 majority in the Senate after losing the Massachusetts seat.
...Whether or not the GOP can win enough seats to get control of either Congress or the Senate will be the topic of discussion for the next few months, but, in the end, winning full control is not necessary to have the result desired by most voters in the Country. The question now is truly whether or not the establishment in the Democratic Party is listening to the voters AND their own more reasonable party members...
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written by CTCB , February 16, 2010
I had to laugh when I read this part......."the peoples' business is not being done" .
Since when, in the past decades, have our 'career politicians' been interested in the people's business?
They no longer represent the People....both parties only represent big government.
Let's face it, if there is a problem in this country, government is the last, not the first, organization we should turn to for solutions.
written by Jay Golub , February 16, 2010
we have to consider that Bayh may have started to see a pathway to his first loss as a candidate for elective office.
The Democrats in Congress, besides the lack of positive action, have been going in a direction that most Indiana voters see as wrong.
Besides, he's young enough to preserve his image as a successful politician by not being involved with the present Democratic leadership in DC...
written by Frank Ammendolea , February 16, 2010
You are exactly right, Jay. Bayh read the tea leaves and realized that he was going to be a casualty of a bad year for Democrats - despite his personal popularity and family legacy. When any politician loses a statewide election, it does tarnish their national ambitions to a certain extent, and Bayh clearly wishes to preserve his chance to someday run for president.
What I think he will likely do at this point is return to his moderate rhetoric, perhaps speak out and write some light criticism of the Dems safe from his perch in Indiana, and then run for Governor again in 2012 (Republican Mitch Daniels is term-limited). That would then set him up to run for President in 2016.
I used to think that Bayh had the potential to be a voice of reason within the Democrat Party. He was from a conservative midwest state, seemed to have some fiscally conservative instincts and was not a San Francisco radical on social issues. But as with most so-called "moderate" Democrats, his votes never matched his rhetoric. Perhaps he'll have better luck in the future.
Right now, I'm glad to see him - and others like him - exit stage left and create more Republican pick-ups.
written by swmirsky , February 16, 2010
Maybe Bayh should consider switching parties. We need more bright moderates on our side and the message of someone like Evan Bayh moving into the Republican camp would be a good one. But it's probably not in the cards. As a newborn Republican, he's unlikely to endear himself to future voters of a Democratic persuasion (should he want to run for president which it looks like he does if and when Obama falters) whereas as a moderate Democrat with fiscally conservative instincts he can certainly appeal to many non-hyperpartisan Republicans and independents. Still, one can dream . . . . -- SWM
written by Daniel Peterson , February 16, 2010
Actually Stu, I think Bayh should stay Dem. Granted it'll be a huge hill to climb as a centrist in the Democratic Party, however, if Republicans take over the House, and the Senate dwindels down to 52-48 Dem, I'd rather see a left-center-right Democrat in Bayh as the executive, because divided government works best.
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