An already difficult situation for Democrats in Congress is worsening as the 2010 political season opens, and 5th District U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello is among the incumbents considered vulnerable.
Four House Democrats from swing districts recently opted not to seek re-election in November, according to The Associated Press.
That brings the number of retirements that could leave Democratic-held seats vulnerable to Republicans to 11, and more Democratic retirements are expected, the AP reported.
Over the holiday break, another Democrat, freshman Rep. Parker Griffith of Alabama, defected to the GOP. He voted against Democrats’ three biggest initiatives in 2009: health care, financial regulation and reducing global warming.
A top Democratic priority is minimizing losses among nearly four dozen seats the party now holds in moderate-to-conservative districts that Republican John McCain won in the 2008 presidential race. The most vulnerable in that group include Democratic Reps. Mary Jo Kilroy in Ohio, Harry Teague in New Mexico, Frank Kratovil in Maryland, Perriello and Travis Childers in Mississippi.
So far, seven Republicans have said they will seek the Republican Party’s nomination in a June 8 primary. The winner of that primary likely will face Perriello in the fall election.
Perriello, D-Albemarle County, whose district includes Henry County and Martinsville, could not be reached for comment Saturday night. However, his press secretary, Jessica Barba, said he has been targeted for defeat “since the day he was sworn in.
“Despite being under that intense pressure, he has been diligent in going out and listening to constituents’” opinions on important issues like health care, the economy and energy independence, Barba said.
Perriello “has been delivering results for people,” she said, adding that he “feels he has taken measures to prevent a great depression.”
In the end, “no matter how you feel about him politically,” Perriello “stands up for what he believes in. He works his tail off” and voters will realize that, Barba said.
He also plans to seek re-election, she added.
Reps. Bart Gordon and John Tanner, both of Tennessee, also were in the group considered vulnerable until they chose to retire. So was Griffith, before he switched to the GOP. Retirement announcements from Reps. Dennis Moore of Kansas and Brian Baird of Washington put two more Democratic seats in swing-voting districts on the GOP’s target list.
Democrats insist that Gordon, Tanner, Moore and Baird are leaving for personal reasons and are not the first ripple in a wave of retirements akin to 1994 when 28 Democrats chose not to run, and Republicans won control in part by winning 22 of those seats.
Republicans don’t agree.
“Democrats are beginning to see the writing on the wall, and instead of choosing to fight in a difficult political environment, they are taking a pass and opting for retirement,” said Ken Spain, a spokesman for the House GOP’s campaign arm.