Arkansas Rep. Vic Snyder announced today he will not seek re-election this year, joining several other Democrats from moderate districts who are opting out of tough re-election campaigns.

Snyder, first elected in 1996, never won re-election with less than 58 percent. In 2008 he was not even challenged by a Republican, while John McCain won 54 percent in the district to President Obama's 44 percent -- an increase from 2004, when George W. Bush won by just a 51-48 margin.

In Arkansas, Democrats hold three of four House seats, both Senate seats and the governor's mansion. However, McCain carried the state with 59 percent, and Sen. Blanche Lincoln is in for the re-election battle of her career.

Snyder's 2nd District is surrounded by the state's three other districts and includes the capital city of Little Rock. While this is another good sign for Republicans -- and winning an open seat is often easier than defeating an incumbent -- Democrats do have potential candidates waiting in the wings, as The Hotline's Tim Sahd notes.

Here is his full statement:

Continue reading "Arkansas Democrat Snyder Retiring" »

Posted by Kyle Trygstad at 05:40 PM | Email Author | Permalink

Public Policy Polling (D) surveyed voters in Arkansas' Second Congressional District, carried narrowly by Pres. Bush in 2000 and 2004 but that went for Sen. John McCain by a 10-point margin in 2008. Rep. Vic Snyder (D), who recently voted for the health care reform bill in the House, could face a tough race there in 2010.

General Election Matchups
Snyder (D) 44
Griffin (R) 43
Und 13

Snyder (D) 45
Meeks (R) 42
Und 13

Snyder (D) 44
Wallace (R) 42
Und 13

Snyder has an upside-down 42 percent job approval rating, with 46 percent disapproving. President Obama fares worse, with 41 percent approving and 52 percent disapproving.

Only 32 percent of district respondents support the health care bill, while 55 percent oppose. Still, 45 percent say Snyder's ideology is "about right" for the district, while 42 percent say he's too liberal. But 50 percent say the Democratic Congress is too liberal, while 39 percent say the GOP conference is too conservative.

"Vic Snyder's situation is pretty emblematic of the perils Democrats face going into 2010," said PPP's Dean Debnam in a release. "His district hasn't been competitive in a long time but his health care vote and Obama's unpopularity with his constituents has put him in a vulnerable position."

The survey of 400 voters was conducted November 11-13 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.9 percent.

Posted by Mike Memoli at 09:30 AM | Email Author | Permalink