From John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
Monday, December 15, 2003 Posted: 3:48 PM EST (2048 GMT)
(CNN) -- Creating a fifth major headache for Senate Democrats in the South, Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana said Monday that he won't seek a fourth term in 2004.
Breaux, a centrist Democrat and the most popular politician in the Bayou State, won his 1998 re-election bid by a 2-to-1 margin. He announced his decision during a news conference in Baton Rouge.
Breaux spent Monday morning discussing his decision with Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, and members of the state's congressional delegation.
The retirement of Breaux, 59, deals another hefty blow to Senate Democrats as they seek to reclaim the majority in 2004.
He is the fifth Democrat from a southern state to announce his retirement before the 2004 elections. Others are Zell Miller, Georgia; Bob Graham, Florida; John Edwards, North Carolina; and Fritz Hollings, South Carolina.
Republican senators Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois and Don Nickles of Oklahoma also are retiring.
Two Congressional representatives -- Democrat Chris John and Republican David Vitter -- are expected to join the race to succeed him. Both have been raising money for a potential statewide race. Vitter ended September with $1.5 million in the bank; John had $826,000 on hand.
He and Bush get along quite well, and Breaux is quite a smart fellow.
Just one more open race closer to 60 seats for the Republicans... just think, no more abortion, no more church and state crap, no more gun bans, no more racist legislation...
Yes CNN/DNC still thinks they have any shot at reclaiming the majority in 2004.
Better written: "another hefty blow to Senate Democrats as they seek to hold a filibuster-capable 41 seats."