Evan Bayh says Bye, Bye to US Senate … Will Not Seek Reelection in 2010

Stunning news from Indiana … Evan Bayh will not seek reelection to the US Senate from Indiana in the 2010 midterms. The news comes as a tremendous blow to Democrats that are already facing severe losses in the midterms. No one saw this one coming and is a crushing blow to Reid and Democrats.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh will not seek re-election this year, he announce Monday, a decision that hands Republicans a prime pickup opportunity in the middle of the country.

“After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned,” Bayh said at a press conference in Indianapolis.

Bayh cited the lack of bipartisan comity as one of the main reasons for the decision. “There is too much partisanship and not enough progress — too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving,” he said. “Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples’ business is not being done.” He specifically cited the recent vote that killed the creation of a debt commission as evidence of the partisan gridlock.

Gee Senator Bayh, you might want to look in the mirror and take a good look at your accusations of the Senates lack of bipartisan politics, too much partisanship, not enough progress and too much narrow ideology. You might just be talking about your self and not the false moderate that you claimed to be. Partisan ideology?

Maybe you would like to explain to the folks of Indiana why you voted for every liberal and socialist agenda Obama policy that went against the will of the people? Would not that be partisan politics? Voting of your Democrat President wanted you to instead of the people you represent.

The loss of Bayh in the Senate is a devastating blow to Democrats as Republicans look to take control of the Senate in 2010. With Bayh’s departure, Republicans may have just come one step closer to regaining the Senate. Bayh claimed that his decision not to run had nothing to do with the fear of not being reelected, but instead to help the country in other ways. What ever.

“But running for the sake of winning an election, just to remain in public office, is not good enough,” he continues. “And it has never been what motivates me. At this time I simply believe I can best contribute to society in another way: creating jobs by helping grow a business, helping guide an institution of higher learning or helping run a worthy charitable endeavor.”

Red State has the Senate Republican pick ups at any wheres between +4 and +8; however, we have an analysis that has it at +6 to +9 right now and will release it shortly.

Bayh’s sudden announcement has shocked all and really made a Republican take over of the Senate a possibility in 2010. If not 2010, it will most certainly go GOP in 2012. There has been much speculation that Obama would name Bayh as VP and say “good bayh” to the bumbling Joe Biden. I would say no way. Obama is too toxic and to associate oneself with The One is to completely destroy your career. I would say that maybe Bayh is angling  to take on Obama in a Democrat primary in 2012 representing a more moderate wing of the Party?

On his way out the door Bayh criticized Washington, DC and Democrats for their partisan politics. Bayh went after Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and in the same breath praised his fellow Indiana Republican Senator Lugar while saying that the Senate needed reform. An interesting point of view because with Bayh’s departure the reform will be a Republican take over. Bayh is positioning himself as the moderate statesman Democrat … this might be interesting in 2012. Of course he did vote for Obamacare.

Bayh gave glaring examples of where things have fallen apart — the failure of the deficit reduction commission after seven co-sponsors of the bill voted No, and the failure of the bipartisan job creation bill that had Republican support but was torpedoed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Bayh, 54, said Congress is in “need of significant reform,” but he praised some of his colleagues, including his fellow senator from Indiana, Republican Dick Lugar.