I know I'm going to regret this, but I just have to ask: In what sense was Paul Hackett's decision to withdraw from the Senate primary race "forced" on him?
"This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me," said Mr. Hackett, whose announcement comes two days before the state's filing deadline for candidates. He said he was outraged to learn that party leaders were calling his donors and asking them to stop giving and said he would not enter the Second District Congressional race.The filing deadline was two days away. Mr. Hackett had his petition signatures in hand (I assume), more money in the bank than Barack Obama, and lots of supporters who believed him when he said he would go the distance. All he had to do was file and run. What exactly could Charles Schumer, Harry Reid or Chris Redfern have done to stop him?
So he was "pushed", "pressured" and "urged" to drop out. So there were "behind the scenes machinations... intended to hurt my campaign". So Brown backers Schumer and Reid called some donors. So what?
Is there more to this story? Blackmail? Hostages? A private ODP army taking up positions around the Hacketts' Indian Hill homestead?
Or has Hackett simply decided he doesn't like the odds, doesn't enjoy being an underdog, doesn't want to risk any more money, knows it's time to bail... but just can't resist that last righteous hit of martyrdom?