Evan Bayh says Rumsfeld must go

Senator Evan Bayh has joined the ranks of politicians expressing their concern with current Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld according to the Indianapolis Star. Appearing on NPR yesterday, Sen. Bayh gave his vote of no confidence in Rumsfeld. Bayh is a member of the Armed Services Committee and just made a visit to Iraq.

Sen. Evan Bayh suggested Thursday that it was time for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to step down.

The Indiana Democrat made his comments to both National Public Radio and The Indianapolis Star as a "no-confidence" movement gained momentum in the Senate.

In recent days, Republican senators John McCain of Arizona, Trent Lott of Mississippi, Susan Collins of Maine, Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska have expressed doubts about Rumsfeld's ability to wage the war in Iraq.

Bayh went a bit further. Pressed on NPR on whether he personally believed Rumsfeld should step down, Bayh said, "I do."

In an interview later with The Indianapolis Star, Bayh said he isn't "a big fan of calling for people's scalps when things don't go well.

"(But) people have to be held accountable," he said. "Significant mistakes have been made. Lives are at risk."

Still, asked how long Rumsfeld could last, Bayh said: "I think he'll stay on as long as the president thinks he's serving him well."

Bayh returns from Iraq.
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Democrat to Watch: There are fewer and fewer after every election, but my money is on Indiana Senator Evan Bayh. Elected in 1998, Bayh is only coming out of his first term, but has already amassed solid credentials as a centrist Democrat with common-sense proposals.

The Senator from the very “red” state of Indiana is chairmen of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), serves on six Senate committees, and will be very appealing to party movers and shakers when the search for a candidate for 2008 revels that if the answer is Hillary, than their fate is one of continued minority status in Washington.

Updates as necessary