Gone (soon) but not forgotten

Politco reports that Rep. Bart Stupak is not going to run for re-election. According to Politico, Stupak’s decision puts his seat into play as a potential Republican pick-up. President Bush won 53 percent of the vote in Stupak’s district in 2004 and President Obama won only 50 percent in 2008.
Friends reportedly say Stupak is retiring to avoid the exertion that would be required to hold his sprawling district in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I guess when you’ve been in Congress for a while, you become averse to exertion. However, there are plenty of Democratic members who will be required to exert themselves this year.