Voinovich: I'm 'no spring chicken'
Posted: Monday, January 12, 2009 5:28 PM by Carrie Dann
Filed Under:
Congress
From NBC's Carrie Dann
When political figures and celebrities give "spending more time with my family" as a justification for stepping out of the public eye, the real reason is almost always anything but.
But 72-year old Senator George Voinovich of Ohio says that the prospect of growing old in the Senate and fighting a costly reelection battle at the expense of time spent with his grandchildren and aging wife is simply too much.
Voinovich, who as a former mayor, governor, and now United States senator has held the most elected offices of any politican in the state's history, says that he's confident that he would have won a third term in 2010. But, in an emotional press conference today, the devout Catholic said that he and his wife are "not spring chickens," and that he would prefer to step aside now than continue on in the Senate like other aging colleagues, whom he says he's seen "deteriorate right before my eyes."
The Republican's retirement makes him the fourth GOP senator to signal a departure from the Senate. He declined to say if he'd spoken with any of his potential successors, but he noted that he considers himself to be a "mentor" to former OMB Director Rob Portman. Saying that a Republican successor would be "the frosting on the cake," Voinovich added that he will be "very disappointed" if a Dem takes the seat instead.
But for his own future, Voinovich's hope is to reconnect with the citizens he hasn't been able to reach. "I'd like to work in a soup line. I'd like to touch people," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "What happens is you get removed."
