And Another One Bites The Dust

Ohio Rep. Deborah Price, who barely survived last cycle, is calling it quits, according to Roll Call (subs. req).

Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) will announce Thursday that she will not seek a ninth term in her Columbus-based seat in 2008, according to two knowledgeable sources familiar with her intentions.

After not having a competitive race for several years, Pryce narrowly won in 2006 against Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy in a 1,055-vote victory in a difficult election cycle for the GOP that cost them a majority in both chambers. Pryce also bowed out of her leadership role as House Republican Conference chairwoman at the end of the 109th Congress when it became clear that she was vulnerable to a leadership challenge and would be unlikely to win in a race. Rep. Adam Putnam (Fla.) succeeded her in that post.

This very bad news for the GOP, as the district is trending Democratic, as is Ohio overall.

The 15th district has trended more and more in favor of Democrats in recent years and Pryce now represents a purely swing seat. Voters there split almost evenly between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in the 2004 presidential election.

(snip)

Republican campaign strategists have said that they do not expect an onslaught of surprise retirements from within their ranks this cycle, though Pryce’s decision was not expected and caught leaders off guard.

I have no idea if this is the beginning of an onslaught of GOP retirements. But retirements like this one, in a district like this one, really hurt the GOP. Another few like this, and Nancy Pelosi should be able to play "We Are The Champions" next November.