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AR-01: Democrat Marion Berry To Retire Today

by Steve Singiser

Mon Jan 25, 2010 at 07:00:03 AM PS

Last week, longtime Democratic Congressman Marion Berry, who represents Arkansas' 1st district, raised some eyebrows by saying in a local radio interview that he was not going to commit to a re-election bid. Later the same day, his communications director cautioned against reading too much into that interview, and gave the indication that Berry was planning to seek re-election.

Apparently, not so much:

Arkansas Rep. Marion Berry is expected to announce his retirement tomorrow morning, according to three sources briefed on the decision.

Berry joins [fellow Arkansas Rep. Vic] Snyder as well as Reps. Dennis Moore (Kans.), John Tanner (Tenn.), Brian Baird (Wash.) and Bart Gordon (Tenn.) as Members sitting in districts either won by McCain or carried narrowly by President Obama to step aside between the end of November and today.

Berry's district is very similar to neighbor Vic Snyder's in that it went overwhelmingly for John McCain in 2008 (59% of the vote), but has a bench that is occupied mostly by Democrats. One prominent Democratic name that is based in the district is state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel. Berry's own Chief of Staff, Chad Causey, is another Democratic name getting whispered often.

On the Republican side, farm broadcaster Rick Crawford was already in the race, but it is hard to imagine that he will have the GOP field to himself now that the race is an open seat.

Given what is on the horizon in 2010, it is hard to believe that in 2008, Arkansas did not feature a single competitive election for Congress. You might recall that Senator Mark Pryor and all four House incumbents were free from major-party opposition two years ago.

In 2010, the state will have two open-seat House races for sure (Berry and Snyder), while a third might become likely if the rumors are true and fifth-term Republican Rep. John Boozman gives up his House seat and runs for the Senate.

On top of that, Sen. Blanche Lincoln's abysmal poll numbers guarantee a competitive general election, and could well invite a Democratic primary challenger, as well.

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Drop out continues.

-- Edited by Sanders on Monday 25th of January 2010 02:57:36 PM