Senator Ben Nelson Announces Retirement

Surprising many, Nebraska’s two term Senator Ben Nelson announced his retirement from the Senate and will not seek re-election.

To hear and see his announcement you can view the Senator Nelson YouTube video below:

Here are some links from Senator Nelson’s website and social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/senbennelson
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/senatorbennelson?ref=ts
Website: http://www.bennelson.senate.gov

Here are some links from a variety of different sources and perspectives:

Journal Star: Nelson won’t run again; state and national implications

Omaha World Herald: Nelson Leaving Senate, not retiring

Fox News: Democrats Scramble After Nebraska Senator Announces Retirement

Bloomberg: Democratic Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska Won’t Seek Re-Election Next Year

Washington Post: Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson’s retirement has his party scrambling, GOP …

The Boston Globe: Senator Ben Nelson won’t run for reelection in 2012

San Francisco Chronicle: Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., won’t run for re-election

Daily Mail: GOP poised to regain control of the Senate as Democrat Ben Nelson retires

New York Times: A Snapshot of the Race for the Senate

New York Times –Blog: Nebraska Senator Won’t Run Again

San Francisco Chronicle: Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson Says He Won’t Run in 2012

Los Angeles Times: Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska won’t seek third term

AFP: Nebraska senator to retire, bad news for Democrats

New York Daily News: Sen. Ben Nelson won’t seek re-election, imperiling Democrats’ hold on the Senate

New York Times: Nelson to Quit the Senate, Giving GOP an Advantage

Wall Street Journal: Nelson’s Retirement Gives GOP a Lift

Salt Lake Tribune: Sen. Ben Nelson retiring, dealing blow to Democrats

TIME: Ben Nelson Retiring, the ‘Kickback’ Kicks Back

Washington Post –Blog: Ben Nelson retirement: How does it affect the Senate landscape?

Christian Science Monitor: Without Ben Nelson, can Democrats keep control of Senate in 2012?

CNN: Nebraska Sen. Nelson will retire

Politico: Ben Nelson’s retirement leaves Dems with a bleak Senate outlook

Huffington Post: Ben Nelson Retirement Exposes Efficacy, Waste Of Outside Money

USA TODAY: Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson to retire

Washington Post-Blog: Sen. Ben Nelson won’t seek reelection

Washington Post –Blog: Republicans delight in Democrats’ Nebraska misfortune

BBC News: Democratic Senator Ben Nelson to retire

Washington Post: Sources: Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska Democrat, to retire

Washington Post: Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson tells supporters he’ll retire: “Simply put: It is …

msnbc.com –Blog: Recommended: Ben Nelson won’t seek re-election in ’12

Fox News: Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson Announces Retirement

Please comment on the impact of this announcement on the Democratic party and the Senate race in Nebraska.