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# Evan Bayh: potential Independent presidential candidate in 2012
- URL: https://ivn.us/evan-bayh-potential-independent-presidential-candidate-2012/
- Published: 2010-09-28T13:36:56.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-22T19:17:15.000Z
- Author: Ryan Jaroncyk
- Tags: News

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/02/6a00d8341c630a53ef012877a408a7970c-600wi.jpg "Evan Bayh: potential Independent presidential candidate in 2012")](https://ivn.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/6a00d8341c630a53ef012877a408a7970c-600wi.jpg)

After shocking the political world by announcing his decision to retire after this year, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh warned that conditions could be ripe for a Ross Perot-type candidate in 2012\. Referred to as a 'Centrist Democrat', 'Blue Dog Democrat', or 'Moderate Democrat', Senator Bayh (D-Indiana) claimed that his retirement was largely due to intense frustration over the partisan-fueled gridlock in DC. Others, however, [believe](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2010/02/on%5Fevan%5Fbayhs%5Fwithdrawal.html?ref=ivn.us) that he merely wanted to avoid facing a brutal re-election campaign.

Nevertheless, Bayh, considered a more independent-minded Democrat with a [mixed voting record](http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Evan%5FBayh.htm?ref=ivn.us), warned that growing anger with the poor performance and hyper-partisanship of both major parties possessed the potential to generate a [legitimate third party contender](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/17/evan-bayh-predicts-third%5Fn%5F466620.html?ref=ivn.us) in the 2012 presidential election. Predictably, speculation immediately surfaced that Bayh himself may have already been quietly considering such a bid, but thus far, he appears to be opposed to the prospect of such an effort.

Having served as the Governor of Indiana and as a more centrist-oriented Senator, some would argue that Bayh would possess the necessary clout and experience to mount an Independent bid. A Bayh campaign could conceivably draw significant interest from more liberal Republicans, Independents, and moderate Democrats, but would likely face stiff resistance from right-leaning Republicans and progressive Democrats.

At this stage, it appears unlikely that Bayh will launch an Independent third party bid, but in politics, anything is possible, especially when over 50% of Americans seem ready to ditch the two-party duopoly.