Another one bites the dust: Sen. Bayh will not seek reelection

Sen. Evan Bayh (D - IN) shocked Democrats across the nation on Monday when he announced his decision not to seek a third Senate term in Indiana this year.

In a press conference announcing his decision, Bayh, 54, contributed his decision to the bitter partisan divides that have arisen in Congress in recent years.

"My decision should not be interpreted for more than it is, a very difficult, deeply personal one," he said in a press conference announcing his decision. "I am an executive at heart. I value my independence. I am not motivated by strident partisanship or ideology."

Bayh, a centrist Democrat, first won the Senate seat in 1998. Despite the current economic climate for Democrats and incumbents, Bayh said his decision to retire had nothing to do with his ability to get reelected as he believed he would have won reelection this November. He noted that it was time for him to "contribute" in different ways, either by creating jobs, heading a charitable organization or teaching at the college level.

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

Obama thanked Bayh for his years of public service following his announcement not to seek reelection.

"During that time, he has fought tirelessly for Indiana's working families, reaching across the aisle on issues ranging from job creation and economic growth to fiscal responsibility and national security," Obama said in a written statement. "I look forward to continuing to work with him on these critical challenges throughout the rest of the year."

Bayh is the third Democratic Senator to announce his retirement this year, making it even more difficult for Democrats to hang on to their 59 vote majority in the Senate. At the time of his retirement, Bayh had raised $13 million for his campaign and held a healthy 20 point lead over former Republican Sen. Dan Coats.

Six Republican Senators have also announced they will not seek reelection this year, proving that it is more of an incumbent problem than necessarily a Democrat problem in this year's mid-term elections.

Democrats will now have to scramble to find a replacement candidate for Bayh's seat, as Friday is the filling deadline for the May primary.

Bayh served two terms as Indiana's governor before winning his Senate seat in 1998. He was considered a rising star in the Democratic party over recent years and even had his name floated as a possible vice presidential candidate in Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential run and is believed to have made Obama's short list for his 2008 candidacy.