The National Republican Senatorial Committee is the first out with a reaction to the news Sen. Byron Dorgan is retiring and won’t seek reelection in 2010, calling the surprise announcement a prime opportunity for the GOP to pick up a Democratic seat.
“North Dakota was always going to be a competitive seat for the Democrats to defend, and Senator Dorgan’s retirement now provides us with another excellent pick-up opportunity for Republicans in 2010,” said NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh.
Walsh said the development “is indicative of the difficult environment and slumping approval ratings that Democrats face as a result of their out of control tax-and-spend agenda in Washington.”
“We fully intend to capitalize on this opportunity by continuing to recruit strong candidates who can win these seats in November,” he said.
Republicans also pointed TPMDC to recent Rasmussen polling showing North Dakota voters oppose the health care bill, consistent with an earlier Zogby poll showing 62 percent opposed it.
The same Rasmussen poll showed Gov. John Hoeven (R) leading Dorgan 58 percent to 36 percent if he would challenge the senator. Republicans haven’t said yet if they will try to recruit Hoeven.
North Dakota voters surveyed by Rasmussen also have a lesser opinion of the job President Obama is doing than the national average.
