Is Bayh Stepping Down for Prez Run?

Evan Bayh's decision to call it quits with Congress is spurring speculation that he's got his eyes on the Oval Office. His resignation speech focused on his desire to get things done: "I'm an executive at heart," he told the crowd. The comment prompted one political scientist to Tweet: "When Bayh said, 'I'm an executive at heart,' might have been hinting at POTUS run in '16."

Or sooner. Bayh, who backed Clinton over Obama in 2008, may actually be after Obama in 2012. His resignation speech "touched all the Clintonian bases from welfare reform, to budget cutting to a strong national defense," writes Ryan Grim for the Huffington Post. But it won't be easy, Grim notes. "Democratic base sees Bayh as a symbol of what's wrong with the party" and "barely a Democrat." That won't fly in a primary.
(More Evan Bayh stories.)