Not surprising, but still good news:
“I took some needed time this week to thoughtfully reflect upon what had transpired,” Hill said in a statement. ” I would like to thank all those whose honest input I sought, including members of the Indiana Democratic Party’s Central Committee and folks from the Ninth District.”
Hill also offered support for Ellsworth, who faces a couple of little-known Democrats in his quest to become the party’s nominee. The state party’s central committee will ultimately pick their candidate after the state’s May 4 primary.
“I believe my friend and colleague, Congressman Brad Ellsworth, is the right man to fulfill the task of ensuring a Democrat is elected to succeed Senator Bayh,” Hill said.
Hill, like the rest of us, was totally blindsided by Evan Bayh’s retirement decision, but suffered one crucial disadvantage over Brad Ellsworth: he was in Afghanistan and incommunicado for security reasons at the time of Bayh’s announcement. For many strategists, that was probably just as well — they both preferred Ellsworth as a candidate, and his open seat would be slightly easier to defend over Hill’s. Still, Hill seemed upset that he had been passed over so quickly, which probably inspired his brief exploration of the race. And now we return to our regularly scheduled program.
would be a great Senator for Indiana. However at the end of the day Ellsworth is more electable and Hill will have his pick of whatever office he wants in 2012.
draft Jill Long Thompson for Senate petition going around online. I am willing to bet that it was started by a republican. If JLT did enter the race she could pull off an upset against Ellsworth. Ellsworth is hated by many netroot progressives so the petition could get much support. Ellsworth is strongly pro-life (he was partly behind the Stupak amendment) and JLT was endorsed by Emily’s list in her 2008 run. If JLT got the nomination it would be disastrous, the woman can’t even get a good haircut let alone run a Senate campaign.