Rep. Tanner Announces Retirement

Rep.John Tanner (D-Tenn.), a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, announcedTuesday night that he has decided to step down next year at the end ofhis 11th term. The news had Republican operatives giddy over what theybelieve to be evidence that Democrats are facing a tough midtermelection cycle.

ButTanner said in a statement that he had considered retiring in 2007 butstayed on after he earned the chance to serve as president of the NATOParliamentary Assembly.

"Webelieved we owed it to our country to stay and fulfill this term ofoffice as NATO PA President. This mandate expires in November 2010, andtherefore, we have made the decision not to seek re-election toCongress," Tanner said.

Tanneradded that he believed his more than two decades in Congress is "anappropriate amount of time to serve, with the voters' consent."

"Ournation faces many severe and unrelenting problems," he added. "I willstay active on these matters and continue my efforts with the Blue Dogsand others of good will to help our citizens come together for thefuture of our children and grandchildren."

Newsof Tanner's retirement comes just days after Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.)became the first House Member to announce his out-and-out retirementthis cycle. Both Tanner and Moore represent conservative districts thatare in grave danger of flipping to the GOP with their departures.

Tannerhas had little trouble holding his Western Tennessee despite the factthat it went for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) by 13 points in last year'spresidential race. Republicans recruited little-known gospel singer andfarmer Stephen Fincher to try to flip the 8th district in 2010, andFincher has gained recognition for raising some $300,000 for hiscampaign through the end of September.

“With$1.4 million in the bank, John Tanner opted for retirement rather thanbe forced to defend the abysmal economic policies of the Obama-Pelosiagenda,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman KenSpain said in a statement Tuesday night. “When a longtime incumbentsuch as Tanner — who hasn't faced a credible challenge in over decade —chooses to retire, it speaks to the deteriorating political environmentthat Democrats have left in their wake after eleven short months.”

Eighteen other House Members — 12 Republicans and six Democrats — are running for other political offices in 2010.