Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson: I'm Retiring Too

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (TDB) -- U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson, a Republican from Springfield with nine terms under his belt in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, says he is retiring and will not run for reelection next year. His hometown paper has the news tonight, which it says was announced "at a birthday party surrounded by staff, former staff and community leaders."

Hobson has a campaign kitty full of cash to pass around -- at the end of July it held more than $800,000 which he no longer needs to spend on himself. The money should make him a player in Republican efforts next year; whether it is used for the House or the presidential campaign.

He is the third Ohio Republican to quit Congress this year -- Rep. Deborah Pryce of Columbus and Rep. Ralph Regula of the Canton area both have said they will not seek reelection in 2008. All three districts represent potential openings to Democrats, but all three have been drawn to favor Republican candidates. Pryce's Columbus area House district is probably the most favorable to a Democratic switch in 2008.

Hobson's Web site is here but at the moment there is nothing about his decision not to campaign for reelection.