Rating Change: Retirement Gives Edge to 'pugs (TN-6)

[last_texas_dem]

>>>>Rep. Bart Gordon ’s surprise retirement announcement set off a scramble on both sides of the aisle and changed the dynamic in Tennessee’s 6th district so much that CQ Politics now rates the race Leans Republican.

The conservative seat, which Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) won by 25 points in the 2008 presidential race, is certainly a golden opportunity for Republicans. It includes several suburban Nashville counties that have become one of the fastest-growing Republican areas in the state in recent years.

But Democrats insist that even without Gordon, they can be competitive in a district that Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen won with 52 percent in 2002 and 67 percent in 2006.

“That seat has sort of trended Republicans for years,” Tennessee Democratic Party spokesman Keith Talley said. But “those people over there are middle of the road folks, and that’s why they kept sending Congressman Gordon to Congress” for 13 terms.>>>>

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003266837&cpage=1

Not sure if there is some personal reason for Gordon retiring, if the close polling vs. Tracy put a scare in him, or something else- but, based on what I know at the moment, Gordon's decision to retire during this particularly tough election cycle seems like kind of an obnoxious move on his part.

[AllentownJake]

1. This happens all the time

A rep does a poll, shows that he/she has a tough race, looks at the political landscape and lands a job in the private sector before he/she becomes damaged by a lost race.

Saves their political capital if they decide to run for another office, and gives them higher asking power in the private sector.

Now get over the illusion that these people represent their districts, they represent themselves.

This isn't a GOP or DNC thing, it happens in both parties. See the retirements announced last year in states where Obama kicked ass in the Senate.

[last_texas_dem]

2. Yeah, I figure you're right

It definitely seems like shitty timing on Gordon's part, though.

If he does plan on seeking statewide or higher federal office, though, you'd think he'd at least give some consideration to the welfare of his state's Democratic Party. At the same time, he's probably figuring that with TN's rightward shift, the party will have no choice but to support him in the future due to electability, regardless of the fact that he seems to be abandoning them at the first sight of a potential tough election.