Dorgan Out

Feeling the Tea Party heat? in frigid North Dakota, the Dem Dorgan bows out:

Dorgan's decision stunned members of his party, who control the Senate but are facing spirited challenges from Republicans in several states. Democrats were confident heading into the new year that Dorgan would run for re-election even as rumors intensified that Republican Gov. John Hoeven would challenge him in November.

Early polling showed Dorgan trailing Hoeven in a hypothetical contest, and Democrats expected a competitive race if the matchup materialized.

Will his fellow Dem and lone Rep. Earl Pomeroy step up?

Good luck keeping those open seats in RedState NoDak.

I still remember Pomeroy's 14 year old nephew calling Rush, at home sick, but a fan, and reading one of his books despite his mom's (Pomeroy's sister's) horror...maybe he's old enough to run these days. It was during the Clinton administration. He didn't have coattails either.

At least four Democrats, including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and five-term Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, are in serious trouble. Dorgan's decision means Democrats now will have to defend open seats in three states. The others are Delaware and Illinois, where Sens. Ted Kaufman, who has Vice President Joe Biden's old seat, and Roland Burris, who has President Barack Obama's old seat, aren't running for full terms.

Ha.

P.S. Say Anything on a Pomeroy challenger. And another abrupt Dem announcement in swing state Colorado. Keep 'em coming:)

...Michigan:

Cherry's decision to drop out makes Dillon the favorite for the Democratic nomination, Ferguson said. Ferguson acknowledged Dillon isn't a favorite son of organized labor, a major player in the Democratic Party, but said party factions will unite behind the eventual nominee, whoever it is.

"Democrats are not suicidal, just combative," he said.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who himself considered and then decided against running for governor in 2010, said Cherry's ties to Granholm and her record would have made a campaign difficult.

"Had he run, he would have to run on Jennifer Granholm's record," Patterson said this morning. "And that's an indefensible record. He would have been held accountable."

An indefensible record.

...Dem Sen. Chris Dodd hangs it up. The Dems' year of living dangerously. And David Brooks thinks we are the ones who don't know what the hell is going on. We need him to give us an "educated" imprimatur.