From today’s Hotline:

IL6: Hyde Seen As Likely To Retire
March 15, 2005 – In her Chicago Sun-Times (3/15) column, Lynn Sweet writes, “In a few weeks,” Rep. Henry Hyde (R) “will announce that he will not seek another term. The public position of Hyde, 80, an icon of the conservative movement, is that he will make up his mind for sure in April. But I am told he has decided to retire and is unlikely to reverse course.” Democrats “believe Hyde is vulnerable. Because of Hyde’s status as a conservative hero, most Republicans in the district would have given him a primary pass if he sought another term.”
Charlie Cook writes in Government Executive /National Journal (3/15) writes that although Hyde “gets a great deal of press attention, his re-election contests have usually gone almost unnoticed — until now. He won last year with just 56 percent of the vote — a new re-election low for him — against a little-known, poorly funded Democrat. Hyde’s weak performance — combined with rumors that the 80-year-old will retire or be appointed ambassador to the Vatican — has thrust his suburban Chicago district into the spotlight.”