Posted on 12/16/2006 6:35:55 AM PST by shrinkermd
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh 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.
''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.
''The odds were always going to be very long for a relatively unknown candidate like myself, a little bit like David and Goliath,'' Bayh said in the statement. He added that beyond the question of ''whether there were too many Goliaths or whether I'm just not the right David,'' his chances were slim.
Bayh, 50, left open the possibility of a run at some point, saying, ''There may be no campaign in the near future..."
Bayh is a Democrat with a record of political success
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I shall endeavor to express my disappointment. I'm ruling out suicide as a method of that expression right off the bat.
Lately, I'm not convinced she'd have to change parties.
Good point!
Is there ANY difference between her and Bloomberg?!
Ed
The last was JFK, assuming you overlook LBJ and Gerald Ford's service in the capacity of president of the Senate.
He won't run...... but will he be Hilly's VP prospect?!
BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Kind of like the lunch "crowd" he drew during his latest trip to Iraq?! :-)
GMTA - see my post above.
Whew. Evan Bayh was the one Democrat who truly worried me. The Witch and Hussein Obama are beatable. A good-looking midwestern (or southern) Dem who could pretend to be conservative is the most dangerous kind of candidate they could field.
I think Richardson has the best chance of winning the general election. Thankfully, the party faithful leans too far left to nominate him.
Don't sweat it. It's known where :the Bayh family bodies are buried. Literally.
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