Bayh Not Running: One Less Republican In Senate Democratic Caucus

There will be one less Republican in the Senate Democratic caucus with Evan Bayh announcing he will not seek reelection. While the loss of Bayh himself is not going to be missed by many Democrats this will make it more difficult for Democrats to hold onto a Senate seat in Indiana. While Bayh is the most conservative Democratic Senator after Ben Nelson, he is still more liberal than any in the Republican delegation, showing how little diversity is left. There was a time when there were Republican Senators who were to the left of Bayh.

Petitions for the primary are due tomorrow meaning that no Democrats will qualify. There has been some speculation on line that this would result in no Democratic candidate. Actually this leaves it open to the party to choose a candidate.

There has been speculation as to Bayh’s motives as he was believed to be in a strong position for reelection. I’ve heard that Rush Limbaugh is speculating that he plans to run against Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2012. As I just had lunch I don’t want to actually check out Limbaugh’s show to verify this, but I assume Limbaugh phrased it “Democrat nomination.” I doubt this is very likely. If  Bayh is planning on running for another office it is more likely he is planning to run for governor of Indiana–a post he has held in the past. Another possibility is that he might be going the Sarah Palin route and looking to make money as opposed to remaining in government. At least he plans to finish his term.

There are now six Republican Senators not running for reelection and three Democrats.

10 Comments

  1. 1
    Charles says:

    » Bayh Not Running: One Less Republican In Senate Democratic …: There will be one less Republican in the Senate … http://bit.ly/cvHYuK

  2. 2
    Leslie Parsley says:

    Wonder when he’s going to announce his switch to the Republican Party.

  3. 3
    Ron Chusid says:

    It won’t happen. He’s too liberal for the Republicans. While he’s too conservative for most Democrats, he is probably at the right spot for Indiana.

  4. 4
    fabian.fabian says:

    » Bayh Not Running: One Less Republican In Senate Democratic …: I've heard that Rush Limbaugh is speculating tha… http://bit.ly/cvHYuK

  5. 5
    aaronherry says:

    » Bayh Not Running: One Less Republican In Senate Democratic …: I've heard that Rush Limbaugh is speculating tha… http://bit.ly/cvHYuK

  6. 6
    oaken.eagle says:

    » Bayh Not Running: One Less Republican In Senate Democratic …: I've heard that Rush Limbaugh is speculating tha… http://bit.ly/cvHYuK

  7. 7
    D Runner says:

    » Bayh Not Running: One Less Republican In Senate Democratic … http://bit.ly/9DSkkp

  8. 8
    Trevor J says:

    » Bayh Not Running: One Less Republican In Senate Democratic … http://bit.ly/cvHYuK

  9. 9
    U.S. Common Sense says:

    I thought the Democrats prided themselves on having such a “big tent.”  Shouldn’t you be upset that he is leaving?  Also, while he was a Blue Dog, he voted nearly all the time with the rest of the Democrats.  Now you might end up with someone not voting with the Democrats at all.

  10. 10
    Ron Chusid says:

    I’ve written several times since Bayh’s announcement that either Bayh, or another conservative Democrat such as him, are the only chances the Democrats have to win in Indiana.

1 Trackbacks

Leave a comment