Whoa.
Word is breaking that Evan Bayh, Democratic senator from Indiana, is going to retire.
UPDATE: Double whoa: The filing deadline to run for federal office in the Hoosier State is Friday*.
Ordinarily, Democrats would look to House members like Brad Ellsworth or Baron Hill to run for the seat. But they have to start collecting signatures today, and both of their districts lean Republican (McCain carried both districts while losing the state). Similarly, Rep. Mike Pence might be tempted by an open seat, but then the state GOP would have to find a contender for his seat fast. Although as I noted Friday, he has no Democratic challenger, at least as of a few days ago.
*A chart on Swing State Project lists it as tomorrow, but the Indiana Secretary of State lists it as February 19. It seems that candidates have until tomorrow to collect the signatures, and until Friday to turn them in to the state.
ANOTHER UPDATE: On Twitter, there’s some talk that the Democrats might be able to appoint a candidate, contending that there is a ballot vacancy.
Not if little-known art-cafe owner Tamyra d’Ippolito collects enough signatures. As of three days ago, she was 1,000 signatures short.