Posted on 01/24/2010 8:24:14 PM PST by truthandlife
Arkansas Rep. Marion Berry is expected to announce his retirement tomorrow morning, according to three sources briefed on the decision.
Berry will become the sixth Democrat in a competitive seat to leave in the last two months but the first to announce his retirement since the party's special election loss in Massachusetts last Tuesday.
"The message coming out of the Massachusetts special election is clear: No Democrat is safe," said National Republican Congressional Committee communications director Ken Spain.
Berry, first elected in 1996, had been noncommittal about his re-election bid for months although, privately, his allies insisted he was planning to run for re-election.
While Berry had rarely been challenged in the 1st district over the past decade or so, the seat has a clear Republican tilt as Arizona Sen. John McCain (R) won it with 59 percent in 2008.
Arkansas will be a huge focus of Republican efforts in the fall with Berry and Rep. Vic Snyder (D) retiring and Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) in deep trouble as she seek re-election.
The field to replace Berry isn't yet set although Democrats mentioned include state Rep. Keith Ingram, Berry chief of staff Chad Causey and Jason Willett, a former state party chair. State Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D) is regarded as a rising star in the state and would be a favorite if he ran. On the Republican side, broadcaster Rick Crawford is in the race although the field is likely to expand with the Berry announcement.
Berry joins Snyder as well as Reps. Dennis Moore (Kans.), John Tanner (Tenn.), Brian Baird (Wash.) and Bart Gordon (Tenn.) as Members sitting in districts either won by McCain or carried narrowly by President Obama to step aside between the end of November and today.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
.... so that the Democrat candidate in 2010 can say “I didn’t vote for it.”
And we edge a bit closer to the 40 seats we need for the takeover.
Why did 12 Republicans pick this time to retire? Mercy...are they nuts? This could have been the year that was...(for Democrats to confront for years)... Hopefully, it still will be.
I knew Dems liked surrendering.
The Dems are suffering from liquifaction due to being up to their differentials in QUICKSAND!!!
The Democrat dam is busting!!!
Boom, boom, boom! Another one bites the dust!
That’s where I grew up. It is eastern Arkansas, one of the poorest districts in the country. The rest of Arkansas looks down on that part of the state. They have never had a Republican congressman that I can remember. This guy’s two immediate predecessors were Blanche Lincoln and Bill Alexander (the Castro lover).
...and another one bites the dust! :D
Hey Spain - Republicans are also on the chopping block too. Don't get your hopes up.
By retiring in what will likely be a strong GOP year they are making it easy for a Republican to hold the seat.
Would you prefer they had retired in 2006 or 2008 and quite possibly lost the seat as a result, or take a chance on an uncertain future climate?
Personally, I'm glad there are some Congresscritters who realize there's a third option aside from being voted out or leaving feet first.
Sorry, not sure I agree with that. Too many of them are not exactly old so why now? It seems that they thought that things were going to be tough before they realized the current atmosphere. My gosh, all are younger than Spector who is trying to hang on at all costs. Where are the Republicans that want to change Obama’s policies - for goodness sakes!
Yep, that’s the goal. Actually I think control of Congress is within our grasp. The Senate is not far behind - 47 or more. Always hopeful.
They last had one from 1873-1875 (not a typo).
But are there any GOOD pubs retiring? Or are they the usual losers?
Is it a black or white district? If black, maybe a black pub could win it.
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