MN-03: Big retirement

We still haven't gotten into the meat of retirement season this cycle. And the worse things look for Republicans, the more they'll opt for K Street and the big bucks. The latest to call it quits is Rep. Jim Ramstad in a very much swing district (R+1 -- Bush got 50% in 2000 and 51% in 2004).

MN Publius has the early rundown, complete with the names of possible candidates on both sides:

First of all, this is anyone’s seat if Ramstad is retiring. Congressman Ramstad has done an amazing job in this district of securing a strong constituent base across parties through a combination of solid name recognition and bipartisan work in Congress. Absent his considerable clout, it is going to be impossible for a Republican new-comer to even come close to Ramstad’s margins in the 3rd. The Dem index is high and increasingly the suburban districts in the 3rd are represented at the state level by Democrats.

Second, this has ramifications in the Senate race. Jim Ramstad helps Republicans state-wide by turning out independents in the 3rd and convincing them to vote Republican. Without his presence Coleman will pick up less votes in the 3rd than he would with Ramstad there; that’s almost a given [...]

[W]ith Republicans hurting nationally this cycle, one has to wonder why Ramstad would even allow open season to be declared on the 3rd CD–a district that has remained Republican largely (and some might say, solely) because of his presence. Moreover, the GOP runs the risk of nominating a more conventional Republican in an open primary due to the small but rabid GOP base in the 3rd. If the Ramstad haters show up in force to the convention, the DFL will get one more feather in its cap.

All in all, fantastic news for House Democrats with some spillover cheer for their Senate colleagues as well.