Another One Bites The Dust

Democratic Rep. Vic Snyder of Arkansas, facing a huge deficit in polls to his likely Republican challenger, has announced that he will not seek reelection.

Snyder, 62, was elected to Congress in 1996 after six years in the legislature and has survived a number of strong Republican challenges over the years, though he drew no GOP opponent in 2008. Three Republicans, Scott Wallace, David Meeks and Tim Griffin, have announced this year. A liberal blog's poll announced late last night showed Griffin with a 17-point lead over Snyder.

Snyder, a family physician who also has a law degree, had a voting record generally viewed as liberal, though he wasn't reliably in that camp. He's opposed single-payer health insurance for years, for example, a stance that has had liberals pushing him this year for a stronger position on the health bill. He was a lonely vote against the war in Iraq, however, and has been a champion for rights of sexual minorities, not a popular position with many Arkansans.

More good news as we await Tuesday's pivotal election in Mass.