Void-ovich

Here in the Cincy area, the impending retirement of GOP Senator George Voinovich has been all but a done deal. Today, that deal is done.

Voinovich announced his retirement this morning after a weekend filled with speculation that he was planning to step aside.

"This has not been an easy decision for us," Voinovich said of he and his wife. "I still have the fire in my belly to do the work of our nation, but after serving the next two years, it will be time to step back and spend the rest of our time with our children and grandchildren, siblings and extended family and friends."

Even as Voinovich's decision went public, former Rep. Rob Portman was moving to consolidate support behind his candidacy for the Republican nomination. Portman has already reached out to House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) to make clear he would run, and reportedly will unveil Mercer Reynolds, the finance chairman of President George W. Bush's reelection race, as his lead money man. A formal announcement by Portman is likely by the end of the week.

Malkinvania declares personal victory over her arch enemy, the hated Republicans old white guys people who refuse to put Muslims in concentration camps, and Cap'n Crunch gives us the brilliant analysis of how Republicans "can’t afford too many more retirements if the Republicans expect to make a comeback in 2010" which is like saying "We can't let the other team score too many more touchdowns" when you're down 35-3 at the half.

Voinovich isn't a terrible guy for a Republican. He had his moments as mayor of Cleveland and Governor of Ohio before he became Senator, and he actually spoke out against Iraq once or twice (and most famously spoke out against John Bolton's nomination as UN Ambassador.) Of course, he didn't actually do anything about Bush's illegal crap...but then again a hell of a lot of Democrats fall in to that category too.

Still, this leaves the seat wide open for the Dems to pick up in 22 months.