Fourth House Democrat To Retire

[Purveyor]

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro

The trickle of retiring House Democrats continued continued today with the news that Rep. Bart Gordon will not run for re-election next year.

Gordon, who represents TN-6, is the fourth Democrat in the past few weeks from a competitive district to announce they won't run.

"Turning 60 has led me to do some thinking about what's next," he said in a statement, per AP. "I have an 8-year-old daughter and a wonderful wife who has a very demanding job, and I am the only child of my 83-year-old mother Margaret. They have made sacrifices to allow me to do what I love by serving Congress, and now it's my turn."

Gordon's seat will be a prime target for Republicans. Republican John McCain won the district in the 2008 election with 62% of the vote. Gordon, 60, who was first elected in 1984, ran without a real opponent in 2004 and won with 74%.

The other retirements: Dennis Moore (KS-3), John Tanner (TN-8), and Brian Baird (WA-3).

Democrats have tried to make the argument that these retirements are isolated, but it's growing harder to make that case -- one is isolated, two raises an alarm and three is a trend.

More...

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/12/14/2151558.aspx

[lapfog_1]

1. Rats... Ship. 'nough said. - n/t

[Cha]

2. You'd have to look at each case individually

and not broad brush it with a knee jerk.

[Laelth]

3. Fine. Let the Blue Dogs leave. That doesn't really bother me. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth