Is this the sound of the Senate flipping?
At the beginning of the year, his seat was considered safe for the Democrats. Given the demographics of the state, you have to move this one from lean Democrat to lean Republican.
UPDATE: Barone weighs in:
Going into this cycle, [Bayh] looked like a sure bet for reelection.
Where does this leave Democrats in the 2010 Senate contests? Not in very good shape. The North Dakota seat held by Democrat Byron Dorgan seems sure to go to Republican John Hoeven. The Delaware seat held by Ted Kaufman (appointed to replace Joe Biden) seems very, very likely to go to Republican Mike Castle. The Indiana seat held by Bayh seems now very likely to go to a Republican.
Read the whole thing!
UPDATE FROM BRUCE (GayPatriot): Word is coming from Maryland that US Sen. Barbara Mikulski is also going to retire in the next few days. Tsunami.
UP-UPDATE (from Dan): Let’s hope Michael Steele runs for the open seat.
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The Republicans have done little or nothing to earn this change of fortunes. The American people simply do not like one-party rule; much less corrupt and incompetent one-party rule.
Comment by V the K — February 15, 2010 @ 12:29 pm - February 15, 2010
Stunning.
I’m reading reports that no polls have been conducted since Coats entered the race, but before that Bayh had a 20 point lead and $13 million in the bank. He has been increasingly vocal recently about his frustration that the far left wing of the Democrat Party is running things. Do you guys think he might be considering running against Obama in a Democrat primary in 2012?
Comment by Scott — February 15, 2010 @ 12:45 pm - February 15, 2010
I think there may be a long line of people to run against Obama in a Dem primary.
Hillary, Bayh, on the right and Jessie Jackson on the left.
Looks like Republican pickups in a huge number of senate seats….
ND, DE, CO, PA, NV, AR, now add IN as for sure pick ups.
Then some marginal chances….NY, CA, ILL. The best chance there is ILL simply because the Republicans have a good candidate. Can CA and NY come up with one?
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 15, 2010 @ 1:00 pm - February 15, 2010
Scott, that might be a plan b, I guess. It is a risk though. If the economy improves, despite the Obamadebt, then he looks like the winner and Bayh looks like the guy who jumped too quickly.
As to the polling, Jim Geraghty reports his ruminations here.
Comment by The_Livewire — February 15, 2010 @ 1:01 pm - February 15, 2010
I’m interesting as to why he’s decided to retire. Oh well, I live in California, the nut jobs here will likely reelect Boxer/Feinstein and Pelosi. Great.
Comment by Jenn of the Jungle — February 15, 2010 @ 1:07 pm - February 15, 2010
Hold on, let me get this in before the trolls do.
“Hah hah hah, you Rethuglicans are Sooooo much in trouble. It’s going to be a LONG LONG decade for you.”
Save BNL the effort of needing both hands to type.
Comment by The_Livewire — February 15, 2010 @ 1:38 pm - February 15, 2010
Bayh is going to head up the Global Thinking Warming Tank in Gorevelina. They are going to produce software for creating climate data that produces the needed results.
Comment by heliotrope — February 15, 2010 @ 2:38 pm - February 15, 2010
Evan Bayh and I are Democrats who apparently agree that our party has been taken over by the left-wing loonies. Though I still cling to the “D” by my name, this last election nearly did me in. I was appalled at how Hillary was treated, and I am angry at the way Obama is running the country. I also think his latest plan to be more “aggressive” in his media response means that he thinks he’s always right and we’re just not listening or not smart enough. I will definitely vote for Bayh if he runs–unless, of course, Hillary is running.
Comment by Ashpenaz — February 15, 2010 @ 2:46 pm - February 15, 2010
The governors races look amazingly well for Republicans too.
PA MI should be easy.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 15, 2010 @ 3:32 pm - February 15, 2010
If it is true about Mikulski, then the Senate will lose its only Trollish-American Senator. Poor Frodo.
Comment by GayPatriot — February 15, 2010 @ 3:43 pm - February 15, 2010
GP you heard Babs was out?
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 15, 2010 @ 4:03 pm - February 15, 2010
Holy crow…..what the hell happened to the “age of Obama”?
He’s devastated his party. hehe
tano, gillie, levi, boob….
who’s havin fun now? hehe
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 15, 2010 @ 4:05 pm - February 15, 2010
Barbara Milkulski is one of Hillarys best friends if you know what I mean.
She may be setting herself up to be part of Hillarys cabinet as they challenge Obama in 2012.
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 15, 2010 @ 4:07 pm - February 15, 2010
Is Tano willing to back off on his December prediction that the Senate would be “a wash” (meaning, as that term is most commonly understood, no net gains for Republicans?)
(Actually, I don’t think even Tardo believes the crap that spews from his keyboard.)
Comment by V the K — February 15, 2010 @ 4:43 pm - February 15, 2010
A politics prof on independent FOX NEWS just said the old style Democrats like Bayh and Milkuski even Dodd can’t stand the incompetence. Of Reid Pelosi or Obama. I’ve said it for a long time, boobs ,morons, dolts and idiots. Even the Dems know it now.
Can you imagine if Teddy were alive today?
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 15, 2010 @ 4:49 pm - February 15, 2010
[...] Gay Patriot says “you have to move this one from lean Democrat to lean Republican.” [...]
Pingback by Evan Bayh Doesn't Love Congress Anymore | REPUBLICAN REDEFINED — February 15, 2010 @ 6:36 pm - February 15, 2010
Independent Fox News reported Bayh called Obama but not Reid. Bit of disrespect there eh?
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — February 15, 2010 @ 7:23 pm - February 15, 2010
Regardless of how people feel about her on this board, there is a definite “Save us, Hillary!” vibe out there among many Democrats and independents. She is a mainstream candidate who is strong on terror–I like the way she took on Iran, for instance. I bet the only reason she didn’t say more is that Obama wants to keep the door open for “diplomacy.”
Comment by Ashpenaz — February 15, 2010 @ 8:01 pm - February 15, 2010
#18: Ash, you are hopeless. Hillary told a bunch of college kids today in Qatar that Iran is “moving toward a military dictatorship.” Wow. She’s a real war hawk, that one. What’s her next move going to be? Telling Ahmadinejad that she doesn’t like the Iranian flag because white, green, and red aren’t on her color wheel?
Then again, to be fair, compared to Obama, that actually is “taking on Iran” and being “strong on terror” for a Democrat.
Comment by Sean A — February 15, 2010 @ 9:06 pm - February 15, 2010
Why not retire? just one term in the senate or two in the house and they’re set for life on the benefits program they voted themselves at our expense.
Comment by American Elephant — February 15, 2010 @ 9:37 pm - February 15, 2010
I think Hillary has more cojones than Obama–her fight to the finish primary against all odds shows me she has the backbone to face down Iran.
Comment by Ashpenaz — February 15, 2010 @ 11:03 pm - February 15, 2010
Breaking news from 1992.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — February 15, 2010 @ 11:51 pm - February 15, 2010
#21: Well, then you’re delusional, Ash. How does Hillary running for the Democratic nomination against an opponent with less “cojones” and losing (and crying on camera) prove that she has the backbone to stand up to a gang of savages that would happily burn her alive for wearing pants?
Comment by Sean A — February 16, 2010 @ 12:09 am - February 16, 2010