Evan Bayh Retiring

The ship is sinking.

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh will not seek re-election this year, a decision that hands Republicans a prime pickup opportunity in the middle of the country.

"After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by serving in Congress has waned," Bayh will say.

Bayh will announce the decision at a press conference later today. He was first elected to the Senate in 1998 and was re-elected easily in 2004. National Republicans had recruited former Sen. Dan Coats to challenge Bayh in 2010 although polling suggested Bayh began the race with a 20-point edge. He also had $13 million in the bank at the end of the year.

More here.

The decision reflects what seems to be a sudden change of heart for Bayh, as Democrats nationwide look ahead to a year in which electoral prospects could be grim.

Former U.S. Senator Dan Coats, a Republican, returned to Indiana and announced his intentions to challenge Bayh. Though political observers said the race has become more competitive given the current political climate, Bayh still appeared likely to win a third term.

Three recent polls all pegged his favorability rating among Hoosiers above 50 percent.

Late last week, Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker said Bayh was returning to Indiana this week to film commercials for his re-election campaign. Bayh’s communication staff began scheduling interviews in his home state.

Bayh is also a former Indiana Secretary of State. He was elected in 1998 to the U.S. Senate seat that had once been held by his father, Birch Bayh.

It had been over two decades since Bayh had experienced even a relatively close race in an election. He received 53 percent of the vote for governor in 1988 against Republican John Mutz, then never got less than 61.6 percent of the vote when running for re-election to the governor’s office or either of his two runs for U.S. Senate.