BREAKING: Voinovich Was Unwanted

The Republican National Committee did not want Senator George Voinovich to seek re-election, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. As Gossip Cbus first reported, Senator George Voinovich announced his retirement on Monday.

“When you look at our map, he was one we were really concerned about. Bluntly, we didn’t think he could win,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He’s old, he’s ineffective, and quite frankly he’s a voice the party, the direction we want to go in, we need to go in, doesn’t need.”

After resigning as Lieutenant Governor, Voinovich defeated Dennis Kucinich and served as Mayor of Cleveland from 1980-1989. He then defeated Anthony Celebrezze and served as Governor from 1990-1998. Elected Ohio’s 59th Senator, he served as junior senator until 2006. Since 2007, he has served as Ohio’s senior senator.

“He would have faced a brutal re-elect and quite frankly, he wasn’t up to it,” said the source. “You look at the 2006 race (Mike Dewine vs. Sherrod Brown), that would have been the blueprint and he couldn’t survive it. Yes, the guy was a great fundraiser, a good man, but he no way could he have kept the seat.”

Potential Republican replacements are already maneuvering, according to several sources. While Rob Portman has announced his campaign, Mike Dewine and Mary Taylor are undecided. Our source would not comment on Portman or other prospective candidates.