Disappointing as he’s a great guy who would’ve been a net positive, but continues the trend from 2022 of the highest-tier Republican recruits not running simply out of contempt for the idea of being in the Senate.
No offense (I think you understand where I’m coming from), but when a user who has dedicated much of his life to ensuring that Democrats are elected to public office and can pass their legislation without facing public backlash is "disappoint[ed]" that a particular Republican won’t be the nominee, you know we’ve really dodged a bullet when said Republican dropped out of the race.
This is a safe red seat where the GOP can’t afford another Murkowski/Romney-type defection. The Democratic caucus has always managed to stick together no matter what (in part because Democrats put party loyalty above everything else in a quasi-religious manner), there’s no reason for Republicans not to follow suit and let Democrats outmaneuver them once again.
You have it backwards, as usual. The Manchinema backstab the entire operation of Dems constantly, with one half even leaving the party because she couldn't do it so easily anymore. Then you have Peters, Feinstein, the NJ sorts and the Delaware duo not far behind either.
