Sen. Kit Bond, a senior Republican from Missouri who sits on several powerful Senate committees, announced Thursday that he will not run for reelection in 2010, giving Democrats a shot to pick up a seat in a state that has emerged as a major battleground.This could be a Democratic pick up in 2010. Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan would be a formidable candidate. Very formidable. She's very smart and very savvy.
The announcement is a blow to Senate Republicans, who now will have at least four of their incumbents seeking retirement at the end of the session, a sign that 2010 could be another tough cycle for the weakened GOP minority.
In addition to Bond, Sens. Mel Martinez of Florida, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas are also retiring from the Senate in 2010.
This is one of my favorite campaign ads, from Robin's first campaign in 2004. It was a big hit:
