After prayerful consideration and much thought, my wife Janet and I have decided that I will not seek a third term in the United States Senate. ...
I must devote my full time, energy and focus to the job I was elected to do, the job in front of me, which seeking a third term -- with the money-raising and campaigning that it would require -- would not allow me to do.
In addition, Janet and I have concluded that once my second term is complete, we should devote ourselves to our children and grandchildren. We have been blessed with good health, but we're no spring chickens. In 2010, I will be 74 years old and will have served 44 years in public office, having been elected to more public offices than any other person in Ohio history.
Just twelve days into 2009, Voinovich is now the fourth Senate Republican retirement, following Florida's Mel Martinez, Kansas' Sam Brownback, and Missouri's Kit Bond. It's interesting that Voinovich explicitly cited being in his 70's and wanting to spend more time with family as a reason for retirement. (Chuck Grassley, Arlen Specter, and Jim Bunning take notice.) The Parties' Senate political committees are also out with telling comments. For the DSCC:
"You know Republicans are in trouble when respected senators like Voinovich are retiring while people like [Sen. David] Vitter (R-La.) are running again," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Matt Miller said.
Miller also previewed a line of attack against Portman, should he enter the race.
"It's also jaw-dropping that Republicans would seem to turn to a Washington insider like Rob Portman, whose sole legacy is helping George Bush run up trillion dollar deficits," Miller said.
"2010 was always going to be a competitive election cycle regardless of the names on the ballot," said Brian Walsh, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
On the Republican side, Politico, who appeared to have the earliest confirmation yesterday that Voinovich would indeed announce a retirement, is now reporting that Republican former Rep. and former Bush administration budget and trade official Rob Portman is in:
Former Republican congressman Rob Portman will announce that he is running for the Senate soon after Ohio Sen. George Voinovich's retirement announcement, according to multiple Republican sources.
Portman would give Senate Republicans an accomplished candidate who is likely to clear the primary field. ...
A strong fundraiser from his days in the House, Portman is expected to have little trouble raising the millions necessary to mount a formidable statewide campaign. (He also has over $1.5 million remaining in his House campaign committee, which he can transfer over for a Senate race.)
While Portman may have been a competent fundraiser, he may not clear the Republican field. While I don't think that John Kasich would force a Senate primary if Portman got in right away (I've heard that, if he runs for something, he's more likely to run for Governor against Democratic incumbent Governor Ted Strickland), there are new worries on the Right that former Ohio Secretary of State and current RNC Chair candidate Ken Blackwell might make a run:
Some expect former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R) to consider a bid for Senate four years after his run for governor came up short. Blackwell, currently a top candidate to chair the Republican National Committee, is focused only on that race, according to a source close to Blackwell.
Party sources say the GOP would much rather have Portman atop the ticket than Blackwell.
"If Portman gets in, one would hope Blackwell does the right thing for the party he's looking to lead now, and help Republicans avoid a divisive primary in a swing state," a top GOP aide said.
Maybe Blackwell supporters are starting the chatter to give RNC members another reason to elect Blackwell RNC Chair - to avoid a Republican Senate primary in Ohio. Time will tell.
Again, on the Democratic side, the most frequently mentioned names are Congressman Tim Ryan and Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and Congresspeople Betty Sutton & Zack Space are the other Democrats to get repeat mentions in the media. No rumblings yet, but here is why I'm leaning toward Congressman Ryan:
With the retirements, new NRSC Chair John Cornyn may spend a lot more time thinking about Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, and Florida then he will spend thinking about Texas. With the elections of Governor Ted Strickland and Senator Sherrod Brown in 2006, and with 2008 seeing Ohio's electoral votes go to President-elect Barack Obama and seeing three Democrats win formerly Republican-held House seats in Ohio. the wind is at Democrats' backs. Stay tuned to Senate Guru for further developments.
