DC political commentators cite sources saying Ritter won't seek re-election; Dem chair denies claim

A Washington, D.C. political commentator, best known for his column "Political Wire" in CQ Politics, published a Tweet this evening saying that Gov. Bill Ritter won't seek re-election.

"Source tells Political Wire that Ritter is dropping out of CO-Gov race... Trying to confirm...," Goddard's Twitter entry says.

Goddard, who has published his column since 1999, is a respected reporter on stories relating to Democratic party-oriented political news.

Chris Cillizza, who publishes "The Fix" for the Washington Post, is also reporting this evening that Ritter will retire.

A call to Ritter's spokesman, Evan Dreyer, requesting confirmation of the rumor was not immediately returned.

Attempts to reach some Democratic legislative leaders, including House speaker Terrance Carroll of Denver, were not immediately successful.

Senate majority leader John P. Morse, D-Colorado Springs, said he is surprised by the rumor and has no information that would confirm it. However, Morse said, the volume of inquiries he has received since the story broke this evening leads him to worry that it might have some substance.

"Put me on the list of wanting to deny, but unable, because I don’t know," Morse said.

Morse also said he thought a decision by Ritter to withdraw would be unlikely to be related to his political prospects in the fall.

"We've accomplished some good things together," Morse said. "

Colorado Democratic party chair Pat Waak also said that she has no information confirming that Ritter will bow out of a second term.

"I have not heard anything like that," Waak said.

In any event, it is at least possible that the rumors will either be confirmed or shot down tomorrow. The Denver Post is reporting that Ritter has called an 11 am press conference and that he called Senate president Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, and Carroll to ask whether they can attend.