| Word tonight that Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) has decided to retire took everyone from colleagues in Congress to the White House by surprise. Baird is the tenth Democrat to throw in the towel -- so far, not an unusually large number, but the type of number that, if it becomes a much larger number, turns into a trend that could spell disastrous consequences for the party's majority in the House. Two others Democrats have announced their retirements in as many weeks. Are Democrats bleeding? Too early to tell. Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report estimates that six of the open seats are competitive. Baird's certainly is -- the district has a blue tint to it, but it went for George W. Bush in 2004 and 2000. By the way: 12 Republicans are retiring; Democrats are going to play for three of those seats. |