Huge blow to Senate Democrats: Bob Kerrey not running for Senate

We had been waiting for his decision for months. We now have it, and it is not what Democrats wanted to hear: Former Senator Bob Kerrey announced he will not run for the Nebraska open seat next year.

Kerrey had hinted much of the past few months that he might jump in if Senator Hagel retires -- only to start hesitating once the time came to make a decision. Republicans have their strongest candidate in the race: Former governor Johanns, a popular figure who resigned from the Bush Cabinet to make this race.

Kerrey has never lost a statewide race in Nebraska, winning many terms both as governor and senator, and he would have started at worse in a toss-up against Johanns. The prospect of him running had Democrats salivating at the thought of picking up the seat unexpectedly, a sure help if they want to approach 60 seats. Are last Senate rankings had Nebraska ranked fourth, at the top of the toss-up list.

The seat is sure to drop in the next rankings. Without Kerrey in the race, Johanns starts as the overwhelming favorite. Democrats still have some hope of getting Omaha Mayor Fahey in the race. He is also popular in the state, and there is no doubt he could mount a very competitive race. But does he have enough to beat a popular Republican in a very very red state in a presidential year? Sounds doubtful, but Nebraska would stay on our radar. A slip-up by Johanns could make it all tied up.

Recent news has not been kind to Senate Democrats: Kerrey's refusal to run, the first Maine poll having Collins up 23 against Allen, GOP candidates emerging in NJ, extremely poor recruitment in North Carolina... The road to 60 seats had opened up a few weeks ago, it appears that it is now closing again.