After months of pressure, Bob Ney is dropping out the race to keep his House seat.
Entangled in the scandals involving former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, embattled U.S. Rep. Robert Ney is ending his re-election bid. Although Ney had vowed to stay in the race even if he is indicted, the Ohio Republican decided last week to bow out. He said he has informed House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, of the decision.
“I’m doing this for one reason: my family,” Ney said in an exclusive interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “My wife and two children have been through enough. I really believe this is the best decision.”
It’s always the family, isn’t it?
Quite interesting:
Another potential factor: Contributions to Ney’s legal-defense fund dried up over the summer. He raised no money for the fund over the last three months after picking up $65,000 in the year’s first quarter, according to financial disclosure records. The only assets listed on his most recent financial disclosure statement were a checking account containing less than $1,000 and a rental home in Greece.
Presuming that his financial statements are accurate–and who knows at this point–that’s simply stunning. He’s simultaneously almost flat broke and has a rental home in Greece? Isn’t that just a wee bit odd?
Ney expects state Sen. Joy Padgett’s name to surface as his successor in the fall race. “She is a person of passion and conviction,” Ney said. “I can think of no better person to represent this district.”
I know nothing about Sen. Padgett but would think she has a much better shot at retaining the seat for the GOP than an incumbent tied to a convicted felon.
