Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett, who gained popularity for his staunch criticism of President Bush, has dropped out of the Democratic race for U.S. Senate in Ohio, according to a published report.

Hackett told The New York Times for Tuesday’s editions that the same party leaders who urged him to run for Senate after his political debut in a House race last year had turned on him.

“This is an extremely disappointing decision that I feel has been forced on me,” Hackett said. ~The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

As the 2/27 issue of TAC reports, Hackett apparently got into this fix with the Ohio Democrats because he made very clear, very public statements strongly opposing illegal immigration because, well, it’s illegal (that crazy kid!). Don’t let the P-I story fool you–Brown’s decision to enter likely had a great deal to do with the Dems not wanting a restrictionist on their ticket. When Hackett says “people like me,” I wager that is what he is referring to.

I mean, that sort of thing might even make them competitive in Ohio, and that would be unacceptable. With decisions like this one, the Dems certainly will be the party of electoral defeat (again). This is a real shame, as a veteran and serious opponent of the war and illegal immigration running on the Democratic ticket might be enough to scare some life and integrity into the Ohio GOP and put up a serious conservative candidate. Okay, sorry, I was getting carried away there. DeWine is the uninspiring incumbemt, and regardless let’s remember that this is the Ohio GOP we’re talking about. The people of Ohio have lost out here.