As retirement announcements go, this one is significant …

Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh will not seek re-election this year, a decision that hands Republicans a prime pickup opportunity in the middle of the country.

Bayh was known as one of the most conservative Democratic senators, and one who was not shy about challenging the President.

In terms of what this means for Democrats, the dire predictions have already started …

[Bayh’s retirement] almost certainly hands his seat over to the Republicans, and makes the prospect of the Democrats losing the Senate this fall seem more than a theoretical possibility.