The Vail Spot via Instapundit

I’ve just heard from an impeccable source that Barbara Mikulski, the Democratic Senator who is up for reelection this November, will choose to retire. Mrs. Mikulski is expected to make her formal announcement in the next few days.

Mrs. Mikulski seriously fractured her right ankle last fall just prior to Edward M. Kennedy’s death. Due to the severity of the fracture, she had to have open reduction surgery, that included the insertion of pins, as well as the use of special surgical boots, during recovery. She had tried to arrive in time for Mr. Kennedy’s funeral but was turned away.

Her recovery has been exceptionally slow and she is evidently still in a great deal of pain. Reportedly, she has told her physician that she does not desire to seek reelection. Additionally, friends and family have been saying in the near future she will announce her retirement. Because of the very slow recovery, she has been forced to use a wheelchair, a walker or a cane in order to get around.

If Mikulski does retire, then who would run for her job on both sides? Does Ehrlich jump in the Senate race and leave the race for Governor on the GOP side wide open again?

UPDATE: We are also hearing that Senator Barbara Mikulski’s campaign has done polling in the past week or two.

UPDATE 2
Chris Cilizza on Twitter

Rumors that Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is retiring are NOT TRUE, according to informed D source.

Update 3
Mike Memoli tweets that he has 2 sources saying it’s not true.

Other blogging:
Hot Air
Red Maryland
Baltimore Republican Examiner
NRO

Szeliga Event

Join us for Victory 2010
Fundraiser for
Kathy Szeliga, House of Delegates 2010
Baltimore and Harford Counties with special guest
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.!

$100 – VIP Reception and dinner begins at 6:00 PM
$45 – dinner w/brief remarks from Bob Ehrlich begins at 6:30

Sponsorships available too – $1,000 – $150

Call or email Kathy Szeliga for more details:
kathy@electkathy.com
443-570-1555

Donate online and mailing address available at
www.electkathy.com

Maryland Politics Watch reports that Craig Zucker will be reporting over $50,000 on hand in his campaign for the House of Delegates in District 14.

Tomorrow night, Dr. Jack Gordon will be having a fundraiser and announcing his candidacy for the House of Delegates in District 42. The event will be at An Poitin Stil (The Still) on York Road.

Incumbents in that district include two Republicans (Susan L.M. Aumann & William J. Frank) and a Democrat (Stephen W. Lafferty.)

Chris Cilizza

5. Maryland’s 1st district (D): A recent poll conducted for state Sen. Andy Harris’ (R) campaign showed him leading Rep. Frank Kratovil (D) by a 52 percent to 39 percent margin. That Kratovil’s campaign didn’t release numbers of its own suggests the incumbent isn’t in a good place — not surprising given the Republican tilt of this Eastern Shore district. (Previous ranking: 7)