Update
– The Daily Caller’s Gautham Nagesh examines the chaos surrounding the Democratic attempts to nominate Bayh’s successor. A dark horse candidate might win the day and is accusing the White House of meddling in Indiana.
– Huff Po and Larry Sabato speculate Sen. Bayh setting up presidential run.
– Forget 2012 speculation, Joshua Greenberg at NYDN says it’s all about 2016.
– Michael Steele slams Bayh’s retirement decision.
Original post
From the Indianapolis Star:
Sen. Evan Bayh will not run for re-election, a decision that will shock Democrats and Republicans alike in Indiana.
In prepared remarks, Bayh, 54, cited 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 said.
As Hot Air notes, Bayh might have killed two campaigns with one announcement:
Indiana would not have likely sent Bayh back for a third term in any event. The entry of Dan Coats into the race gave Republicans at least one strong, credible candidate (there are others either declared or interested) to challenge Bayh on his support for the Obama agenda. Bayh had recently tried to rebuild his centrist credibility, but his vote to allow ObamaCare to come to a floor vote undermined his supposed independence.
The only hope Democrats had in holding the Indiana seat was in keeping Bayh in the race.
… Bayh has managed to put his fellow Democrats in a real bind by waiting until the last minute to make this decision.
Full story: Bayh will retire; Update: Dems have four days to find candidate – Hot Air