Yesterday featured a rash of surprising announcements about top Democrats, facing tough reelection prospects, ending their campaigns.
In Connecticut, embattled Senator Chris Dodd, chairman of the powerful Senate Banking Committee, indicated he would not seek reelection. Dodd faced several well-funded GOP candidates and trailed to all of them in head-to-head matchups. However, he will be replaced with Attorney General Richard Bloomenthal, the most popular politician in the state, dramatically improving Democrats chances of holding that seat.
In Colorado, Governor Doug Ritter, still in his first term and mired in poor approval ratings, decided to forgo reelection. Democrats will likely tap Denver Mayor John Lickenhooper, a moderate with strong name ID. Former Congressman Scott McInnis is the consensus Republican candidate and he’s expected to have a much tougher time with Lickenhooper than he would have with Ritter.
Michigan Lt. Governor John Cherry ended his bid to succeed Governor Jennifer Granholm after polls consistently showed him losing to any of the Republican candidates. Several Democrats are looking at the race but speculation centers on Speaker of the House Andy Dillon who would be a formidable candidate.
North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan’s shocking retirement creates an interesting dynamic. Dorgan was potentially facing a challenge from popular three-term GOP Governor John Hoeven who is now more likely to get in. The best opportunity for Democrats is at-large Congressman Earl Pomeroy who will have to decide if a race for Senate makes more sense than a safe House reelection. If Pomeroy opts into the Senate race, that becomes a toss-up senate seat while Pomeroy’s House seat becomes a likely GOP pick-up.
Yesterday also featured another interesting “retirement.” Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer stepped down after mounting pressure from the grassroots, major donors, and current and former legislative leaders to resign. Greer was a close ally of Governor Charlie Crist and publicly used his position as chairman to assist Crist in his race for the GOP Senate nomination against former Speaker Marcio Rubio, a conservative star. Greer is likely to be replaced by former Speaker of the House John Thrasher, recently elected to the Senate in a special election. Thrasher is very popular throughout the GOP and is a conservative and strong ally of former Governor Jeb Bush. One concern however is that members of the legislature are prohibited from raising money during the 60-day legislative session.