By JOHN BRESNAHAN | 12/27/11 1:09 PM EST Updated: 12/27/11 3:41 PM EST Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska announced his retirement from the Senate Tuesday, delivering a serious blow to Democratic efforts to hold on to the majority in the chamber next November. “There’s much more that needs to be done to keep America strong. And while I relish the opportunity to undertake the work that lies ahead, I also think it’s time for me to step away from elected office, spend more time with my family, look for new ways to serve our state and nation. Therefore, I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection,” Nelson said in a video posted on YouTube, titled “What’s Next.” “Simply put, it’s time to move on.” The 70-year-old Nelson was considered one of the most endangered Democratic incumbents this cycle. GOP-affiliated outside groups have already dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into TV ads bashing Nelson, while the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spent over $1 million on its own ad blitz to bolster his image. The White House and top Senate Democrats, including Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Chuck Schumer of New York, had quietly mounted a pressure campaign to keep Nelson from retiring. Nelson has more than $3 million in his campaign war chest, and his approval rating solidified after falling over the past several years. Nelson can give unlimited amounts to the DSCC from his reelection fund, Democratic sources noted. Nelson, a former insurance industry executive, had forged a reputation in the Senate as one of the most moderate Democrats, sometimes to the frustration of his more liberal colleagues. He supported the tax cuts under President George W. Bush in 2001 yet also backed President Barack Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package in 2009, as well as the Democrats’ signature health care bill. Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70879.html#ixzz1hlxOew6P |
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