Another Top House Democrat to Retire

[question everything]

(OK, so this is the WSJ editor's subject line, but it has interesting interpretation)

DECEMBER 15, 2009

Another Top House Democrat to Retire

By PETER WALLSTEN
WSJ

WASHINGTON -- Another senior Democratic congressman from a competitive district said Monday he would retire, heightening pressure on party leaders seeking to avoid a 1994-style election defeat that would change control of the House. The planned departure of Rep. Bart Gordon (D., Tenn.), chairman of the House Science Committee, marks the fourth retirement in recent weeks, and the seventh in districts that analysts believe could change hands. Monday's announcement followed similar decisions from fellow long-timers John Tanner of Tennessee, Brian Baird of Washington and Dennis Moore of Kansas. More retirements are expected following the holidays.

Party strategists describe the retirements as more of a trickle than a flood. Fifteen years ago, the party lost more than two dozen incumbents to retirement as the Newt Gingrich-led Republicans swept into power by gaining a total of 54 seats. Democratic officials also note that more Republicans than Democrats are leaving the House after next year -- a 13-11 margin so far -- and that at least three of those GOP-held seats could change hands.

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Democrats, trying to minimize damage to their 41-seat cushion, are scrambling to talk skittish incumbents out of retiring, even as they work on a "contingency" track to line up credible candidates should more retirements occur. House leaders and White House officials are targeting at least five Democrats who have expressed private concerns about their ability to win re-election next year, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.), chairman of the party's House campaign committee. Mr. Van Hollen said the leadership has developed an "early warning system" to detect potential retirements and talk worried incumbents out of leaving. The efforts would likely include calls from Mr. Obama. Mr. Van Hollen declined to name the five targeted Democrats.

Republicans have been trying to push into retirement at least nine longtime Democrats serving in swing districts, including Reps. John Spratt (D., S.C.), Earl Pomeroy (D., N.D.) and Vic Snyder (D., Ark.). A spokesman for Mr. Spratt waved off retirement "rumors." A spokeswoman for Mr. Pomeroy said the congressman was traveling and could not be reached. Mr. Snyder said he is planning to run for re-election. One top Democratic aide said the party's overall strategy had not changed since October, when Mr. Van Hollen distributed a memo to colleagues touting 20 Republican-held seats being challenged by Democrats.

Mr. Van Hollen said Monday he expected additional retirements, "but not a flood." His October memo offered a glimpse into the argument leaders are making to worried colleagues. Proclaiming "the best defense is a good offense," Mr. Van Hollen promised an aggressive use of "research and voter contact programs to go district by district to create our own political environments."

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Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A4