What a way to start the 2010! North Dakota Democrat Senator Byron Dorgan has decided not to seek reelection in November.
A Democrat powerhouse, he’s been in the Senate since 1992 and is a major Democrat leader in the Senate on Health Care and other issues. This comes as a huge shock to most insiders, though the latest reputable poll indicated that undeclared North Dakota Governor Republican John Hoeven is beating Dorgan by 22 points (58-36)!
Of course, Dorgan was expected to beat the current field easily, but word has it the mood in North Dakota is at such a breaking point that even the seemingly unbeatable Dorgan has taken himself out of the race to save face and retire to “pursue other interests.” (Let me translate from political Newspeak: “I’m gonna get my butt handed to me so I’m bowing out to avoid the humiliation.”)
Dorgan wants to leave office with his dignity intact, but this should be seen as a sign of his fear of the voters he’s supposed to represent in North Dakota who really really really REALLY don’t want the Obama Care Dorgan supports.
