Evan Bayh: Buh-Bye

Another Dem bites the dust.

Evan Bayh has decided to call it quits.

From the Washington Post:

There is no way for Democrats to sugarcoat the news of Sen. Evan Bayh's retirement: This is mighty good news for Republicans. Bayh would have been very difficult to defeat, and he has $13 million in the bank. Now, Indiana can be added to the list of seats that could shift to the Republicans, and that list is growing large enough that the GOP is within striking distance of taking over the Senate, an unthinkable idea even a month or so ago.

...Why did Bayh do this? He spoke in his statement of his frustration over ideological and partisan polarization in the Senate. The truth is that Bayh has not seemed very happy in his work for quite a while. I think he believed (and with some reason) that he had a good chance of being picked as Barack Obama's running mate in 2008. I can't help but think that this disappointment has played a role in his mood and in his thinking about his long-term political prospects. More generally, I think he liked being governor much more than he liked being a senator. As for what else is going on here, we'll need more reporting. The timing of his decision, so close to the filing deadline, does seem odd, and will require some explanation.

Whatever his reasons, I'm glad to hear that Bayh is jumping ship.

I wish Russ Feingold would follow Bayh.

It's time for Wisconsin Republicans to find a formidable candidate to challenge to Feingold.

Tommy Thompson should quit stringing along the Republicans, acting like he's Brett Favre, and make a decision now.

This election is an opportunity that Wisconsin Republicans have to seize.