Politico-speak

Harold Ford, who has criss-crossed the state for the past two months having all but announced his candidacy for U.S. senator from New York, today said he was not going to run:

"I've examined this race in every possible way," Ford wrote, "and I keep returning to the same fundamental conclusion: If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary — a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican strengthened."

In other words, he's refraining for the good of the party.

Translation: "The tide has turned against the Democrats and even though I think I could beat Gillibrand in the primary, I might easily be defeated by the Republican in November, and after having lost in Tennessee two years ago I don't want to be known as a two time loser. I'm going to bide my time until I see a race I can win."