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JANET HOOK
In a sign that political paralysis in Congress is taking a toll on its own members, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) on Monday unexpectedly announced he would not run for reelection this year, blasting the Senate for its recent failure to address major issues like reducing unemployment and the federal deficit.
"After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so in Congress has waned," said Bayh, whose decision to step down was all the more surprising because he appeared almost certain to be reelected to a third term in November even though he represents a predominantly Republican state.
"I love helping our citizens make the most of their lives," Bayh said, "but I do not love Congress."
Bayh's decision to quit, despite a well-stocked campaign coffer, is the latest in a series of blows to Democrats' efforts to cut potential Senate losses in November's midterm election. His retirement brings the number of seriously contested seats now held by Democrats to about eight.
It also comes in the wake of major disappointments in key states where favored candidates decided not to run, and the upset victory of a Republican last month in the Massachusetts Senate race.
But the announcement, made at a news conference in Indianapolis, did more than just depress Democratic morale in an election year that was expected to whittle the party's 59-vote majority in the Senate.
Bayh also gave voice to a frustration that crosses party lines over the poisonous political environment surrounding Capitol Hill and the gridlock that is allowing big national problems to grow worse.
"It's a pervasive feeling that has taken hold," said former Indiana Rep. Lee Hamilton, a Democratic associate of Bayh. "The low ratings and criticism of Congress, the lack of progress on policy, the excessive partisanship that has gripped the place have made everyone much more aware of the disadvantage of remaining in office."
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