UNDER THE RADAR SCREEN - AT 8:01 P.M. ET:  This hasn't gotten anywhere near the attention it deserves, except from Michael Barone.  The fact is that Democrats are bailing out of the 2010 midterms, realizing the reality.  From The Politico:

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) announced he’s not running for re-election this morning, becoming the fourth House Democrat from a politically-competitive district to announce retirement plans in the last month...

...Gordon becomes the tenth House Democrat to retire this election cycle, with over half of them in districts Republicans plan to aggressively contest. His announcement follows the post-Thanksgiving retirements of Reps. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), John Tanner (D-Tenn.) and Brian Baird (D-Wash.) – all of whom represent politically-competitive districts.

And...

...internal Republican polls showed Gordon in serious danger of losing his seat next year, running for re-election in a Republican-leaning seat. Gordon didn't help his re-election prospects supporting the Democratic cap-and-trade energy bill and by initially supporting health care reform legislation in committee — even though he changed his mind and voted against the bill on the House floor last month.

COMMENT:  With the Dems about to go over the cliff on health care, and with the probable decision (see story below) to  try more terror suspects as if they were shoplifters, don't be shocked if more Democrats suddenly announce that "I want to spend more time with my family."  Lots of lonely Congressional families out there.

A good sign for Republicans, but overconfidence can kill it all.

December 14, 2009