Want the scoop on hot races around the country? Get the digest emailed to you each weekday morning. Sign up here. Leading Off: ' GA-Sen, IA-Sen: In a double-whammy of major retirement news, both Sen. Saxby Chambliss and Sen. Tom Harkin announced, on back-to-back days, they would not seek re-election next year. Chambliss, a Georgia Republican in his second term, has been experiencing considerable pressure from the right; despite his conservative voting record, he suggested a possible, maybe, kinda-sorta open-ness to perhaps increasing revenues, which is a huge apostasy. A top-tier primary challenge seemed very likely, and Chambliss evidently preferred to go out on his own terms, rather than risking getting turfed out on someone else's, so on Friday, he did just that.
Harkin, meanwhile, had represented Iowa in the Senate since 1985 (and in the House for a decade before that); at age 73, he'd likely have faced a stiff battle in the general election, though he's knocked off all comers despite frequently being a GOP target. On Saturday, Harkin acknowledged that he'd be 81 if he finished a sixth term and said, simply, "It's just time to step aside."
Both moves will set off a frenzy of interest by members of both parties in both states. In swingish but blue-tilting Iowa, it's conceivable that all four House members could engage. Much of the Senate discussion on the Democratic side has focused on fourth-term Rep. Bruce Braley, who represents the northeastern part of the state, though see our IA-Gov item below, because Braley had just indicated an open mind to a possible gubernatorial run. With Harkin's departure, though, he's likely national Democrats' top choice.
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