In an interesting reversal, Indiana Democrats will now have to formally place Bayh’s name on the ballot after nominee Hill announces he is stepping out of the race – something Hill did on Facebook on Monday morning.
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Democrats had tried to talk Bayh into running for either senate or governor past year, but he declined.
CNN reported that former in senator and governor Evan Bayh will replace Hill on the ballot.
In a news statement, Bayh said he spoke with Hill, but he didn’t confirm whether he’ll join the race.
Bayh’s candidacy would instantly create a competitive race in IN, where incumbent GOP Sen.
Indeed, by some measures, it’s a rather striking turn of events: In 2010, Evan Bayh retired from the Senate and became a lobbyist.
San Antonio Spurs superstar Tim Duncan will retire from the National Basketball Association, the team announced Monday.
Young’s campaign says the Senate seat “isn’t the birthright of a wealthy lobbyist from Washington”. Republicans are fighting for more seats than Democrats. NRSC Executive Director Ward Baker made the following statement regarding the Indiana Senate race: “Hoosiers will have a very clear choice in November”.
Republican Sen. Jerry Moran is up for re-election and Kansas Democrats are considering a potential candidate in a businessman, Greg Orman, who ran for the Senate two years ago as an independent, to see if he might make another try.
Hill did not mention Bayh when he announced that he was dropping out of the race, but did mention qualities that match Bayh’s resume. “Bayh presents a more formidable obstacle [to Republicans], although his post-Senate legal career is sure to be an opposition-research minefield for him, especially in an election defined by anger at big government and career politicians”, Politico observed.
Since leaving public office, Bayh has been a senior adviser with Apollo Global Management, a Fox News contributor, an adviser for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and a board member for Evansville-based Berry Plastics Group. and Marathon Petroleum.
Add in Evan Bayh and now there is a larger probability of at least four. Young beat Hill to win his seat in Congress in 2010 and has not been polling well in a Senate rematch. A Democratic Senate – and with it, the strong possibility a President Hillary Clinton could get Supreme Court nominees and maybe even a budget approved – is beginning to look like an even bet or better so long as Donald Trump continues to have his problems.
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Bayh’s name recognition and money – he had more than million left over from his old Senate campaign committee, compared with Hill’s less than 0,000 in cash on hand in April – make him a formidable Democratic contender in an otherwise conservative state.
