Enzi ends suspense over reelection bid

Ending months of speculation, Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) announced Saturday that he would run for a third Senate term, sparing Senate Republicans another November headache.

Enzi, the ranking Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, kept Senate leaders guessing for months about whether he would run for reelection after they snubbed his bid for a coveted seat on the Senate Finance Committee.

{mosads}Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) bypassed Enzi by appointing Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.), a first-term senator, to the panel with jurisdiction over taxes, trade, Social Security, and healthcare.

Enzi fumed about McConnell’s decision and told The Hill he was “pissed.”

The Wyoming senator kept the suspense up until the last minute, delivering what sounded like a retirement speech to an audience of supporters gathered in Gillette, Wyo., Saturday morning.

Enzi summarized his accomplishments in the Senate and even mused “there are things” he and his wife Diana “want to do together while we’re young enough and healthy enough.”

But like a skilled dramatist, Enzi then told the supporters what they were waiting to hear: “Now I’m asking the people of Wyoming to renew my contract.”

After receiving hearty applause, Enzi led his supporters in a slightly off-key rendition of God Bless America. 

Political analysts have predicted that there is little chance that Enzi would lose in a reelection bid. His retirement would have given Democrats a much better chance of capturing the seat.

Seventh-term Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.), whose district covers all of the state, beat Internet entrepreneur Gary Trauner, a Democrat, by just over 1,000 votes in 2006 election. Few predicted the race would be so close.

Enzi noted that he had again announced his bid for reelection late in the political cycle and asked supporters for help, especially fundraising help.

“You’ve probably seen articles that say I haven’t raised much money,” he said.

Enzi reported $647,000 in his campaign account at the end of March, about $160,000 more than he had in the bank at the same point before his 2002 re-election. He raised $194,000 in the first three months of this year.

Saturday, Enzi highlighted his accomplishments in the Senate. He said he his committee has helped pass 27 bills into law while most other committees average only three bills every two years.

He discussed his work on health information technology, his changes to occupational health and safety law, and his support for conservation easements in Wyoming. He also cited his work to reduce AIDS infections as another accomplishment for which he is proud. 

In total, Enzi said he had about 40 bills “in the works” to help Wyoming and America.

“Together we can do a lot more,” said Enzi. “I’m prepared and determined to make sure the will of Wyoming people is known and followed.”

Enzi thought he had the inside track to grabbing the Finance Committee post because the death of Sen. Craig Thomas (R) left Wyoming without a representative on the panel. 

But Sununu is facing a difficult re-election fight and McConnell appeared to appoint him to bolster his political standing.

Democrats view Sununu as one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the Senate.

Five Senate Republicans have announced they would retire at the end of the 110^th Congress: Sens. Wayne Allard (Colo.), Larry Craig (Idaho), Pete Domenici (N.M.), Chuck Hagel (Neb.), and John Warner (Va.).

No Senate Democrats have announced retirement plans.