Posted on 12/16/2009 6:15:10 PM PST by Born Conservative
Democrats, looking to tamp down speculation about a wave of additional retirements, are getting assurances from some of their most senior members that theyll be sticking around for another term.
Democratic leadership sources report that some of the members most frequently rumored as retirement possibilities are, in fact, running for re-election.
Reps. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.), Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), Jim Matheson (D-Utah), Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.), and Tim Holden (D-Pa.) have all told Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen that theyre not retiring.
Five of those six members -- Kanjorski being the lone exception -- represent districts that John McCain carried in last year's presidential election.
Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) is also expected to run for re-election, even though hes been named on many retirement lists.
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) even publicly announced hes definitely running again, and bashed Republicans for spreading rumors that he was thinking of stepping down.
"I don't know why anyone would give credibility to these Republican rumors. I'm running for re-election and anyone who knows me knows that what I'm doing now is what I've always done, Peterson said in a statement. My paperwork is on file and in February I'll make an official announcement.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
AMEN! Wouldn’t it be perfect if the GOP picked up Teddy the Swimmer’s seat in MA. If that happened this retirement list will get a lot longer.
Like MB has a choice in his retirement!
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