Earl Pomeroy Retirement Watch: Rumors Say Earl’s Out Before Democrat State Convention

With media reports circulating that Rep. Earl Pomeroy is seeking a job with a life insurance industry group (something Pomeroy still denies), there are a lot of rumors about whether or not the 9 term incumbent will be on the ballot again in the upcoming election. Not all of them are credible, but one source close to Democrats has told me that Pomeroy isn’t running. That he’ll announce his retirement shortly before the Democrat state convention, and that Heidi Heitkamp will slip in as the nominee.
The rate at which he’s spending his campaign war chest at this point (or, more accurately, not spending it) seems to indicate that Rep. Pomeroy isn’t running, and this would certainly be an interesting turn of events if true.
Pomeroy staying in the race until close to the convention minimizes the possibility of a primary fight on the left. As long as he’s running, nobody else is going to get into the race. A sudden jump out of the way for someone like Heidi Heitkamp would almost assuredly hand her the nomination.
Now I’ve reported word from sources close to Heidi Heitkamp indicating that she’s not running for the Senate, and who could blame her? With Hoeven the likely nominee and with Dorgan’s retirement giving him the wind at his back that’s an uphill climb for even an optimal candidate. But the House race is a different matter entirely, and Heitkamp may well have a shot in that one.
Of course, this is just rumor and conjecture at this point and should be taken with a grain of salt, but if I were a betting man:
A) I’d put good money on Rep. Pomeroy announcing his retirement within a month.
B) Heidi Heitkamp would be as likely a replacement on the ballot for him as any.