Indiana Senator Evan Bayh (D) apparently won't seek re-election in November.
FoxNews.com reported moments ago:
Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh will not seek re-election this November, an unexpected decision that hands Republicans an opportunity for a pick-up in a year when Democrats are already defending several open Senate seats.
The two-term senator is known as a moderate Democrat. Former GOP Sen. Dan Coats had been planning to challenge Bayh in November -- but a senior Democratic source told Fox News that recent polling showed Bayh way ahead of Coats, and that the retirement must have been a personal decision.
According to the Associated Press:
The Indianapolis Star reports that Bayh is attributing his decision to excessive partisanship that makes progress on public policy difficult to achieve as the motivation for his decision. [...]
"After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so in Congress has waned," he told the Indianapolis Star.
"My decision was not motivated by political concern," he added. "Even in the current challenging environment, I am confident in my prospects for re-election."
Apparently so, for according to FoxNews.com, Bayh was leading Coats by 20 points in the polls.
