Berry Latest To Announce Retirement
Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR) will become the latest Dem to forgo running for another term when he announces his retirement tomorrow, Dem sources confirm to Hotline OnCall.
The 7-term Dem has never faced a difficult bid for an additional 2 years, winning more than 60% of the vote in every re-election bid. But he represents a district that could give Dems headaches; the northeast AR seat, based around Jonesboro, gave Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) 59% of the vote in '08. The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza first reported Berry's decision.
Berry's retirement is a psychological hit for Dems. After pledging to run for re-election, he said the election of Sen.-elect Scott Brown (R) should serve as a "wake up call" for Dems.
"It was definitely a political tidal wave and that has been verified. It is no long[er] polling information and speculation. That's just the reality and I think it will definitely change the health care legislation," Berry told a local radio station. He told The Tolbert Report last week: "I think [Brown's win] is shocking to say the least."
Though the party has yet to fall victim to the wave of exits GOPers have hoped for, a slow drip continues to suggest that the party's efforts to keep seats in the House will become more difficult.
Berry's only GOP challenger this year is Rick Crawford (R), a reporter covering agriculture issues at KAIT-TV and KFIN-FM, both based in Jonesboro. Crawford ended the 3rd quarter with just $38K in the bank, far less than the $590K Berry had on hand at the same point.
GOPers are not set on Crawford as their nominee. One source pointed to State Sen. Johnny Key (R), state Rep. Davy Carter (R), businessman/'84 GOV nominee Woody Freeman (R) and businessman Chris Fowler (R) as possible candidates. Ex-AR Farm Bureau chair Stanely Reed (R) lives in the district, but he abandoned a Senate bid after a single week for medical reasons.
AR AG Dustin McDaniel (D) would be an instant front-runner, if he decides to make the race. A Dem source also names state Sen. Robert Thompson (D), state Rep. Keith Ingram (D) and ex-AR Dem chair/ex-Berry staffer Jason Willett (D) are potential candidates.
Dems aren't writing off the CD. They say it has Dem underpinnings, and point to the fact that while McCain was racking up his big win in the CD, every statewide Dem took over 60%.
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