The Democratic Party's prospects for the 2010 mid term election (which will occur in 260 days) just got a little worse. Conservative Democratic Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana suddenly and unexpectedly announced his retirement a few hours ago, sending the Indiana State Democratic Party into a frenzy to identify a viable primary contender to go head to head with former Congressman, ambassador, and lobbyist Dan Coats.
Since Indiana election rules say that the Party has less than 24 hours to collect 500 signatures from each of Indiana's Congressional Districts, the Democrats in the state may have to exploit a rule allowing the leaders of the state party to select a candidate. This would require a bit of maneuvering from Bayh in concert with the state party, but it seems to be the only way Democrats stand a chance of even legally having a candidate in the 2010 race.
The best bets for a Bayh-style Blue-Dog that can win in this consistently Red state seem to be Representative Brad Ellsworth, or Representative Baron Hill. It will be an uphill climb for Indiana Democrats, even if they can get their act together by Friday, the due-date for filings for the 2010 Senate race.