Quotes from the past few days...

These are selected quotes from the past few days with regards to the momentum gained by Senator Bayh.

Kathy Sullivan, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair:
[Warner’s] exit probably would help Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a moderate ex-governor, "more than anybody." – USA Today, 10/13/06

Chris Cillizza, Washington Post:
“The most obvious Democrat to benefit from Warner's surprise announcement, in the view of many party strategists, is Sen. Evan Bayh (Ind.). He cleared his schedule yesterday to make phone calls to donors and party activists who had tentatively signed on with Warner for 2008 and are now free agents.” – Washington Post, 10/13/06

Charlie Cook, Cook Political Report:
“I think Bayh has as good a claim of picking up support that otherwise would go to Warner as anyone, in fact a better shot that anyone,” said Charlie Cook, publisher of the non-partisan Cook Political Report. “It is inconceivable that this doesn’t help Bayh some, and maybe a lot.” – Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, 10/13/06

John Dickerson, Slate:
“The most likely beneficiary of Warner's departure may be Bayh, who was competing for a similar sphere of donors and activists as a representative of the centrist wing of the Democratic Party. As a former governor of Indiana, Bayh can claim executive experience, just as Warner could, and offer the same hope that as a favorite son he could turn a red state into one the Democrats could count on.” – Slate, 10/12/06

Mark Preston, CNN:
“Warner's exit provides an opening for Bayh, who would have had to compete with the former Virginia governor for the centrist Democratic vote.” – CNN, 10/12/06

Jennifer Duffy, Cook Political Report:
“The biggest winner might be Evan Bayh,'' said Jennifer Duffy, an analyst at the Cook Political Report in Washington, referring to the Democratic senator from Indiana who is exploring a presidential bid.” – Bloomberg, 10/12/06

Steve Kornacki, PoliticsNH.com, New Hampshire Political Journal:
“Within minutes, conventional wisdom decreed that Evan Bayh had the most to gain from Warner’s decision not to run. And for good reason. Warner and Bayh, both moderate former governors from red states, had been tangling over the same turf – and Warner, in the early going, had been getting the better of Bayh in the all-important “buzz” department. Now, Bayh’s road to emerging as the consensus “non-Hillary” candidate has been cleared of a formidable obstacle.” – PoliticaNH.com, 10/12/06.

Kenneth Baer, Democratic Consultant and Warner Strategist:
“It's a huge boost to Evan Bayh," – Baltimore Sun, 10/13/06

Michael Crowley, The New Republic:
“I suspect Bayh is about to have his own moment in the spotlight.” – The Plank, 10/12/06