The Crossed Pond

Here.

Veteran Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) is expected to announce tomorrow that he will retire from the Senate in 2008, according to several informed sources, a decision that further complicates an already difficult playing field for Republicans next November.

Domenici has struggled with health problems over the last several years and has been dogged by questions about the role he may have played in the firing of U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias in Albuquerque. As a result, he had been long been rumored as a potential retirement. He joins Republican Sens. John Warner (Va.), Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and Wayne Allard (Colo.) on the sidelines for 2008.

Glad I bought that New Mexico Senate stock. :)

This puts this seat in legitimate contention. There is also some chance Richardson goes this way, though I suppose probably not after his decent third quarter. If he ran though, he’d win. As it is though, the Democrats were lining up for a solid run whether Domenici ran or not (he certainly has enough chinks in his armor these days). They’re ready for this one.

By my count that puts this seat, Virginia, and Nebraska into play. Add to that Maine, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Oregon, Alaska (my next blue chip), Colorado, with perhaps third tier challenges (but still dark horse shots) in Texas, North Carolina, maybe even South Carolina. And Democrats have to defend…Louisiana. That’s it. That’s about 10 seats to 1.

This year is not going to be pretty for the GOP.