Rats leave a sinking ship for a reason: they know it is about to go under. That's one reason (ill health being the other) why veteran Republican senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico announce that he's retiring. The total of GOP senators throwing in the towel is now five (although that includes Larry Craig of Idaho and his famous wide stance). The Republicans' Senate campaign is going to be stretched thin next year.
Domenici's retirement does open one possibility: New Mexico governor Bill Richardson could run for the Senate instead. That has the advantage of being an election he could actually win - unlike the presidential nomination.
