Just Think Of What You'll Be Missing

You won't have Evan Bayh to kick around anymore.

U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., announced early today he will not be a candidate for president in 2008.

His decision was made public in a statement released to The Indianapolis Star.

"As you know I have been exploring helping the people of my state and our country in a different capacity," he wrote. "After talking with family and friends over the past several days, I have decided that this is not the year for me to run for President and I will not be a candidate for the presidency in 2008.

"It wasn't an easy decision but it was the right one for my family, my friends and my state. I have always prided myself on putting my public responsibilities ahead of my own ambitions."

I think the field winnowing this early is probably bad for the country. I'm not a big fan of Evan Bayh's, but the marketplace of ideas should be broader than Hillary/Obama/Edwards. Hopefully others won't be talked off the ledge as well. Obviously it's a money problem, and that fact - that you have to raise so much to run for President or really anything - is reaching a crisis point for our democracy.