Keith Olbermann reported on Countdown tonight that Tweety told his Hardball staff that he will not be running for the United States Senate in Pennsylvania in 2010.

From the New York Times:

For much of the last year, Mr. Matthews had been considering entering the Senate race as a Democrat in his home state at the same time he was renegotiating his contract with NBC News. He had attended several meetings that had included Pennsylvania representatives as well as some major fund-raisers in the Democratic Party

But Mr. Matthews, who was once a top aide to the House speaker, Tip O’Neill of Massachusetts, and ran for Congress as a Democrat in 1974, never formally declared himself a candidate, a decision which would have forced him out of his position at MSNBC.

In an interview in October, Mr. Matthews said, “People have asked me about it. I’ve never told anyone that I’m running.”

From the Los Angeles Times:

In a routine production meeting before his daily show, “Hardball,” Matthews informed the staff that he was not going to pursue the seat, said network spokesman Jeremy Gaines. The cable host, who is negotiating a new contract at MSNBC, declined to comment.

For the last several months, Matthews toyed with the notion of taking on Republican Sen. Arlen Specter. He even went so far as to talk to state Democratic power brokers about what it would take to challenge Specter, a five-term senator.

Matthews’ interest in the seat put MSNBC in an uncomfortable position as reports mounted that he might run. In recent weeks, executives told him that he needed to make up his mind quickly and let them know of his plans.

From Hollywood Reporter:

That clears the way for Matthews to remain at MSNBC, where he has hosted "Hardball" since the late 1990s. Although he’s not the most popular personality at NBC and has been a lightning rod of criticism for some remarks about Hillary Rodham Clinton in early 2008, Matthews and his show got a big boost from the presidential election. "Hardball" saw its highest ratings ever in 2008.

He is said to be mulling a contract offer from MSNBC to remain; those negotiations are continuing. But in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in mid-December, Griffin said he expected Matthews to remain.

"I’ve talked to Chris. I think he’s going to be here for a long time," Griffin said. "I want him to be here for a long time." Griffin said that there would be "clarity" soon. 

Has Arlen Specter dodged a bullet? And was it a Magic Bullet?


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