A day after he stunned most of Washington by announcing his resignation from the Senate, Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh said this morning on MSNBC that he would not run for the Democratic nomination for president against Barack Obama in 2012.
The question, asked on the program's Morning Joe show by guest Mark Halperin, was triggered by fevered speculation in an article in the New York Post today. Though the story also had Bayh denying he'd make such a move, it featured quotes by people like campaign strategist Joe Trippi, who said,
Bayh's decision was likely "one of the smartest moves of 2010" for a presidential hopeful, said Democratic campaign strategist Joe Trippi.
"It's going to be a lot easier running for president in the future because he walked away from Washington."
Bayh said he was quitting yesterday because he says he's sick of Congress, and mentioned two recent pieces of proposed legislation that went by the wayside as examples of how dysfunctional Washington is, a sentiment that seems to be growing by the day around the nation.
