(CNN) - Rep. Peter King is formally bowing out of this year's New York Senate contest, again.
"While the political situation has changed dramatically in the Republicans' favor since September and I believe that Sen. (Kirsten) Gillibrand can and will be defeated in 2010, I will not be a candidate for the Senate," he said in a message sent to supporters Monday.
The 9-term Long Island Republican had announced his decision to skip the race last fall, but said in December that he would reconsider his decision based after requests by party leaders. He claimed the national spotlight in recent weeks as one of the most vocal congressional critics of the White House's response to the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing.
Surveys indicate Gillibrand could be vulnerable in a battle with a strong opponent. In a Siena poll last month, just under a third of the New York voters questioned thought she deserved to hold on to her seat, and 34 percent said they'd back another candidate. In the same poll, Gillibrand was virtually neck-and-neck with George Pataki, with a 46-43 edge over the former GOP governor.
In his Monday message, King cited the time demands of fundraising and campaigning, a reason he has cited in the past. He also repeated that he was "increasingly confident" the GOP would take back Congress, giving him the change to reclaim the chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee.
Last month, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani opted out of the state's 2010 races for governor and senator. King's decision again deprives Republicans of another of the party's most high-profile potential Senate contenders.
From CNN Politics
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The truth is there is no difference if you vote Democrat or Republican Liberal or Conservative. We will get the same we have always received from big brother, the people who can attract the billions required to be elected are not getting that money from the people. Both of these parties are bought and paid for by the Special interest groups, PACs, Unions, Wall Street, banking, global Corporations are all contributing billions to re-election funds that undermine the people's representation
I say in 2010 ask who is funding you representative? Look to see where the money is coming from? If the money comes from outside your district then who do you think they will represent if they are elected or re-elected? We need to bring these professional politicians back into line.
Think if they are in office then put them out no matter what party they belong to.
His only credential is that he is loyal to the party when it comes to spreading their nonsense about the President. What has he ever actually done other than talk?
""While the political situation has changed dramatically in the Republicans' favor since September.."
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The political situation has in fact changed dramatically for the Repugs. Senator, BUT NOT in their favor. Your Party is looking more like an episode of "Survivor" with just a few bedragled men and women left standing. So, in light of the fact that you don't have a good grip on reality, I think your decision NOT to run is a wise one.
CNN poll: "57 percent approve of the way President Barack Obama's responded, with 39 percent disapproving of how he handled the situation" ... Maybe Rep King realized that he's just another dirty teabagger Republican scumbag who contributes nothing of substance to this country. Thank you, President Obama, for standing up so strongly against domestic terrorists like those in the Republican Party and thank you for taking the fight directly to the terrorists in Afghanistan/Pakistan/Yemen, despite what those "say anything" liars on the right are suggesting. Let's fix this country's national security loopholes and get Americans back to work in 2010!
GOP actions match their way of governing: Oh yeah we will win but don't expect me to put my neck on the line. Someone else can do that. The Democrats deserve their chance at fixing the mess Bush/GOP created from 2000-8.
Sounds like another rat deserting the sinking ship to me!
"Surveys indicate Gillibrand could be vulnerable in a battle with a strong opponent". And Peter King indicated he's not a strong opponent. I could have told the blowhard that.
Hopefully the days of lying politicians like King are numbered. King does have a vivid imagination, but he never lets facts get in the way of his hate filled comments.
GOPer King deserves to be NOwhere near any legislative position after his disgusting LIES about our national security recently.
Maybe he can be gov of Alaska, then opt out of that!! Sounds familiar.
"Changed dramatically in the Republicans' favor"? He and his cohorts will believe that as long as they need to believe it. It does not make it the truth.
King knows that he has little appeal to voters outside of his "Let's make believe it is the 1950's" district. Can't wait for this guy to retire. Outside of promoting overtime for cops, he has done nothing for his district.
Good, because the guy is nothing more than a blowhard and an idiot. Oh, and hypocrite. Another of the same guys who thought trying terrorists using our judicial system was exactly the right thing to do and message to send UNTIL it was someone other than their guy (Bush) making that decision. He and Giulini (and others) should remember that we don't live in the 50's anymore. There's video and tape of EVERYTHING you say....especially when you just said it 2 yrs ago.
This election will be a real toss-up! Stay tuned!
Dome people know where they serve best if they are serving at all.
Sime people like a title and seat in Washington. He could run and lose both chairs.
Even by Rasmussen standards, it would have been impossible for King to beat Gillibrand.
Peter King is not that stupis he knows he could not win the US Senate seat in New York. It would be nice if he did run then he would lose and the American people would not have to listen to this wind bag anymore.
We think King didnt stand a chance and has a big job lined up with a big healthcare company.
Peter King, you are one big fat rooster, you crow a lot, but that's all, are you afraid you would not be a shoe-in as you are when you run in the House. Hey you might have had to do some campaigning out of your comfort zone.
Good riddance. The man has been an embarrassment to us on Long Island.
The Republicans are hopeless. The Dems are worse! Get us a Libertarian that won't spend like a drunken sailor and won't try to run the governement from the pulpit.
One would have thought that with all of his incessant criticism of the Obama administration, King would have put his money where his mouth is and run for a state-wide office.
Maybe the man knows what everybody else knows – his brand of crap only sells in Long Island!