Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Good news! Politico says that Arizona's embarrassing Senator Obstruction, Jon Kyl, will announce his plans to retire on Thursday. Could you leave today? KTAR in Phoenix has more. KTAR.com – Report says Kyl will retire from Senate in 2012:
PHOENIX — Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl scheduled a news conference Thursday morning to announce his future plans and the Web site Politico.com reported the Republican will retire next year.
Kyl's office said he would hold a news conference at 10 a.m. at Phoenix Sky Harbor Marriott hotel "to announce his plans for 2012." The announcement contained no hint of what Kyl might say.
A twitter from Politico said Kyl "will announce his plans to retire at a press conference in Arizona later today, a source confirms to POLITICO."
Kyl, 68, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 and the U.S. Senate in 1994. He has served in the Senate since 1995.
Commence your silly wild ass guesses (SWAG) on all the politicians who think they have the right stuff to fill this open Senate seat in 2012. We should have confirmation this morning.
UPDATE: It's official. Jon Kyl says he will not seek 4th term in 2010: U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl announced Thursday that he will not seek a fourth term in 2012, sparking a scramble in Arizona for the state's first open senate seat in nearly two decades.
Every Republican officeholder in Arizona woud like to replace Kyl, which means there will be a crowded field and possibly other seats opening up at the congressional and state level as Republicans maneuver for the primary.
Democratic possibilities are far more llimited. There is Jim Pederson who ran a lackluster campaign against Kyl in 2006; Secretary of Homeland Security and former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (sorry, but no); Rodney Glassman who was the sacrificial senate candidate against John McCain in 2010, etc. All I can say is Democrats better keep looking, but find a credible candidate soon. The race is on.