2008: Former Senator Max Cleland declines Chambliss rematch

What a shame. I understand his reasoning and all but still, I would have loved to have seen former Georgia Senator Max Cleland back in the Senate.

Former Georgia senator Max Cleland confirmed Thursday he will not seek a 2008 rematch against Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, who won Cleland's seat in a bitter 2002 campaign.

Cleland, a Democrat who lost three limbs in Vietnam and uses a wheelchair, had campaigned aggressively for other Democratic candidates this year, leading some to speculate that he might be preparing for a run of his own. Still angry over 2002 political ads criticizing Cleland's commitment to national security, many Democrats had hoped he would try to avenge the loss.

But through a spokesman, Cleland told The Associated Press Thursday that he would not challenge Chambliss.

"Sen. Cleland has decided not to run again in 2008," the spokesman, Michael Duga, said. "(He) looks forward to entering the private sector and private life for the first time after more than 35 years in public service."

Cleland's decision was not entirely surprising to Georgia political observers who note that Democrats were trounced in major statewide elections Nov. 7 and that returning to a Senate seat six years after losing it is rare.

"I would have been surprised to see him run," said Charles Bullock, a political scientist at the University of Georgia.

Bullock noted that Cleland, 64, has spent much of his time recently campaigning with other Democrats, including Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.[...]

"Obviously he'd be a great candidate. He's very popular in Georgia and he has a lot of respect nationwide," said Jeff DiSantis, executive director of the Georgia Democratic Party. "But we expect there to be one or maybe more strong candidates running, and we think Sen. Chambliss is vulnerable."

Cleland was Georgia's secretary of state for 12 years and headed the Veterans Administration under President Carter.

He was elected to the Senate in 1996, serving one term in the seat previously held by Democrat Sam Nunn for 24 years. In 2002, Chambliss beat him with 53 percent of the vote to Cleland's 46 percent.[...]

"I think one of the things that will cause hesitation there is that (Democratic Lt. Gov.) Mark Taylor just got his clock cleaned" in his gubernatorial bid against Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue, Anzalone said, referring to Taylor's 38 percent showing. "But at the same time the fact that there is this generic Democratic wave ... will probably lead some people to think it's viable."

Bullock said Cleland's decision highlights the "paucity of the Democratic bench, that Democrats are looking to try to find some credible candidate to try to run against Chambliss."

Democrats said to be considering a Senate bid include Rep. Jim Marshall of Macon, DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones and state office-holders such as Secretary of State Cathy Cox.

Cleland has acknowledged battling depression and said recently he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, possibly prompted by violence in Iraq triggering memories of Vietnam.

Duga said his "health is good, both physically and mentally," noting that Cleland traveled to more than 70 congressional districts in some 30 states this year.

He said Cleland will take some time off in the immediate future but declined to say what the former senator plans next.

Sen. Cleland is an American patriot who served our country. I wish him the best.