Bye-bye Bayh. Bayh won't run in 2008.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

The DLC must be weeping.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061216/ap_on_el_pr/bayh2008_10

WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record) of Indiana announced on Saturday he will not seek the presidency in 2008, saying he believes the odds of a successful run were too great to overcome.
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"At the end of the day, I concluded that due to circumstances beyond our control the odds were longer than I felt I could responsibly pursue," Bayh said in a statement. "This path — and these long odds — would have required me to be essentially absent from the Senate for the next year instead of working to help the people of my state and the nation."

The announcement comes just two weeks after Bayh, in an appearance on a Sunday talk show, said he would take a first step toward a presidential campaign by forming an exploratory committee. His decision to step aside narrows a crowded field of possible candidates that, for now, is dominated by Sens.
Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois.

Just last weekend, Bayh traveled to New Hampshire, the early presidential primary state, but his appearance drew little notice as Obama delivered two speeches to sold-out crowds and attracted hordes of reporters. Bayh joins former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner as well-known Democrats who already have decide against a 2008 run.

[Renew Deal]

1. Great news but...

This is terrific news. We get to present the country with a better more left leaning slate than if he had run. But... Why are these big names either dropping out or hesitating to run. We have now lost the heart of the best opposition to Hillary. Feingold and Warner were at the top and Bayh would have been dangerous. Why is that?

I truly believe that Hillary and her people are somehow buying these people off. I just can't pinpoint how yet.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Maybe he's shopping for the VP spot with Hillary.

He and Warner are both Red State conservatives..er, "moderates".

[Renew Deal]

4. Bayh is to the right of Warner

Though I'm not sure that it matters. Warner would have had a good chance of winning if he ran. He practically ran for a year and mysteriously dropped out. Feingold also would have had a good chance, especially with Warner out. He would have consolidated the liberal support in the party. He mysteriously dropped out. I just think it's too weird.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Well, Hillary pretty much holds the DLC "centrist" spot.

The party and the country are beginning to lean left and she's going to have a real fight on her hands (I hope). Biden is pissing in the wind if he thinks he can out "moderate" her.

As I see it, it's going to come down to a bloodbath between some progressive candidate after the dust settle on which progressive and Hillary.

Bayh and Warner may be politically astute enough to recognize this and have backed out in hope of the 2nd spot or some other prestigious seat in a Hillary administration. Or, if it's a weak leftist candidate, he/she may call on some "moderate" to balance the ticket.

[sallyseven]

10. He isn't running (Warner) because

he saw the fever in the hearts of the Obama voters. He has a powerful message and everything else is lost. I love Warner and wish he were running at least for VP.

[skipos]

7. If they are conservatives, why are their approval ratings from Democrats in their homestate

through the roof? And their approval ratings from Republicans so-so?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Fortunately, most Democrats live in Blue states.

And tend to have a different view of what "liberal" means.

[WilliamPitt]

3. .

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Well, saying he's not running is a rather goofy tactic.

Seeing as how our politics are controlled by the money guys, how does saying he's not running raise the millions of dollars he's going to need to run? Being coy and the "reluctant" candidate like Gore might get, and apparently has, a "draft Gore" movement going. But, an relatively unknown senator from a nowhere Red State?

Not that politicians won't do just about anything to advance their egos and careers, even stupid things, but I see no upside to this announcement unless he's fishing for the second spot.

[UTUSN]

8. I can go back to liking him as a good Dem instead of detesting him as a candidate n/t

[me b zola]

11. Great news, AFAIC

Matthews was asked what Bayh will do with his warchest and he seems to think that Bayh will use it for leverage for a VP spot--ugh.

[jcrew2001]

12. re

It seems like there is a lot of anti- Bayh sentiment. I don't know much about the guy, but he seemed to have a good shot at winning his home state. I think he'll be the VP nominee. I haven't heard him speak, he strikes me to be a little stiff.

[WI_DEM]

13. so the field widdows down on our side too

It's not too inconceivable that Bayh may end up on somebody's VP shortlist.