Washington (CNN) – Arkansas Rep. Vic Snyder, a Democrat whose re-election prospects looked increasingly grim, announced Friday that he will not seek another term this November.
Snyder, first elected in 1996, is the sixth Democrat this cycle to retire with no plans to seek higher office. Six other House Democrats are leaving their seats to run for other offices. Fourteen House Republicans have announced plans to retire or run for another office.
In a statement released by his office, Snyder said 2010 "will be a robust election year during which great forces collide to set the direction for our country for another two years."
"I have concluded that these election-year forces are no match for the persuasive and powerful attraction of our three one-year old boys under the leadership of their three-year old brother, and I have decided not to run for re-election," he said in the statement.
Polling suggested that Snyder, a top target of national Republicans, was facing difficult re-election battle against former U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin, his Republican challenger in Arkansas' second congressional district. Griffin released a statement thanking Snyder "for his many years of service to the nation both in uniform and in Washington."
The National Republican Congressional Committee claimed that Snyder's announcement is part of a larger negative trend for Democrats and pointed to the tight Senate race in Massachusetts as another example.
"The political environment has become so toxic that Democrats are fighting for their political lives to hold on to Ted Kennedy's senate seat in Massachusetts while multi-term incumbents in swing districts like Vic Snyder are throwing in the towel," said NRCC spokesman Ken Spain. "After voting for the 'stimulus,' cap-and-trade, and a government takeover of healthcare, this announcement should come as no surprise."
UPDATE: Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, issued a statement thanking Snyder for his service and pledging to find a credible Democrat to run in his place.
"As a proud father of one-year-old triplets, he has earned the right to now put his family first," Van Hollen said of Snyder.
From CNN Politics
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I guess nobody wants to go down with Obama and the great disaster that will befall the democrats in 2012. Getting out while the getting is good.
Maybe some of the USA populace is having withdrawal pains ... from missing the Bush administration and the 8 golden years of Republican power.. for those 8 years..... .huh?
Ignore the Desperate Dem spin machine. Republicans who are retiring are doing so because they want to AND have solid Rep support to keep the seat. The Dems who are not running (e.g. Chris 'Countrywide' Dodd) are doing so because they know that they are TOAST. HUGE DIFFERENCE!
All of America will celebrate when that racist and bigoted Senate Majority Leader Reid announces his retirement after he rams the health care bill down our collective and unwanting throats (or, hopefully, when he FAILS to do so).
The Dems saw what happened in last November and now in Mass. and they are running for the hills. Instead of hope and change we got unemployment and debt.
No big deal its another old man!!
"The political environment has become so toxic that Democrats are fighting for their political lives to hold on to Ted Kennedy's senate seat in Massachusetts while multi-term incumbents in swing districts like Vic Snyder are throwing in the towel,"
Hey Democrats, wake up and smell the diaper. You quadrupled the national debt with a stimulus that failed even before it started and are trying to force through a health care bill that the majority of Americans don't want and don't support. You want to stop the backlash? It's simple, represent your constituents and stop serving the ultra liberal leadership.
I am an independent with conservative views, but I feel empathy for Mr. Snyder.
The direction of the Democratic majority is vastly different from years ago. The country will survive, but you are right, your family should be the most important of your life.
God Bless you and have a wonderful life.
I guess we'll just have to wait until the polling day and see.
My opinion is that most of these older Democrats were only here until the Democrats became a Majority, sort of like Judge Sutter did, just so Bush did not have the absolute absolute power. May they find rest in their retirements, the rest of us Democrats will move forward...
...unlike the Republicans who are (lirterally) dying out by, and alienating the newer generations by always looking back and never forward....
...my, oh, my, what will you Republicans do when the word Socialism which was used to terrorize a whole baby boomer generation will no longer be feared by the majority of voters? I wonder?
this is hilarious.
Another rat jumps ship.
The wtiting is on the wall for all Democrats that support Obama's Health Care debacle!
Outside people are coming into Arkansas and putting up billboards slamming Lincoln and Pryor. I don't think people in Arkansas cotton to outsiders! Even though they vote Republican for the presidential elections, Arkansas has a strong Democratic base. There are NINE Republicans running for the primary. They are going to tear each other to shreds!
Vic Snyder was never popular here in the first place.
It's not just the Democrats that have to worry about re-election. Any incumbent is probably in serious trouble. "We the people" are fed up with them all.
Maybe the country needs a time out from the Democrats? But be careful what one wishes for. Can you image the trouble the GOP will cause if their numbers dramatically increase? We've been there before and how soon so many seem to be forgetting the Wall Street Crash of 2008.
Arakansas has lost a real stateman with Vic Snyder's decision to not seek re-election. We understand his desire to be home with his 3 year old son and three 1-year olds at this time in their lives. The whole group of currently 9 Republicans who were tyrying to run on the other side do not have, in total, the honesty and intelligence of Mr Snyder.
Another liberal Dem tucking tail and running. They made a whole bunch of moderate promises and since they have had power for the past year they have done nothing short of a socialist takeover. The American people are waking up to this fact. It is going to be a slaughter come NOvember.
Why are the Dems retirements getting so much ink while the 14 GOPers are leaving office either to retire or run for higher office? This is only the 6th Dem to leave. They should have to stay and face the voters they have made these very importent decisions for all of us. To me this is just a cowards way out.
To bad the voters did not see a loser and quitter before they voted him in. They might as well have someoen from the opposing party as have having a quitter.
6 + 6 = 12 ... which is less than 14 .... The National Republican Congressional Committee claimed that Snyder's announcement is part of a larger negative trend for Democrats...
No wonder republicans can't balance the budget ... they can't even do the arithmetic!
Looks like the Dems are going down the tubes, because they decided the "4 horsemen of the apocalyse" Obama, Reid, Pelosi, and Kerry... were the ones they wanted to follow! can't wait for November to get here, so we can see just how big the democrat "massacre" will be!!
it's the socialist agenda by obama--retire or i will throw you under the bus to further my kingdom.
Run, run, run you cockroaches, the exterminator is coming!
2010 & 2012 is going to be a political cleansing of epic proportion that is long overdue. Lobbyists, you better start gathering your blood money and get your carpet bags packed, don't forget to cover your tracks. The tar and feathers are on order, America knows who you are!
These cowardly Dimwits are depriving the American taxpayers the satisfaction of voting them out of office! Face your "McGovern" like a man, you rat!