New Mexico’s Jeff Bingaman latest Democrat Senator to Retire Prior to 2012 Election

And the retiring Democrat US Senators keep coming …

Add New Mexico’s US Senator Jeff Bingaman to the list of Democrats who are retiring rather than run in the 2012 elections. This could put a real crimp into Harry Reid and the Democrats maintaining control of the Senate following the 2012 elections. Although Obama won NM in 2008, the GOP made great gain in the state in the 2010 elections along with the victory of Republican Susana Martinez.  

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Governor Bingaman joins Senators  Kent Conrad (D-ND), Jim Webb (D-VA), and Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT), those who caucused with the Democrat party. The retirement of Bingaman just made a safe Democrat seat into a 50-50 toss up. Democrats have to defend 23 seats, 21 Dems and 2 Indies who caucus with Democrats while the GOP only have to defend 10.

Mr. Bingaman, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was expected to cruise to a re-election victory, but Republicans seized on his announcement as a sign that Democrats in swing states don’t like their chances in 2012.