Berry won't rule out retirement

Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.) doesn’t sound wedded to running for reelection.

Speaking on a local radio show, Berry said it is his “intention” to run in November. But he wasn’t willing to go much further.

Asked whether he, Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) or Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) might join Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) in retiring, Berry said anything can happen. (The comments begin at about the eight-minute mark here.)

“I don’t know of anything right now, but there’s not been this much turmoil in Arkansas politics in a long time,” Berry said. “In the next couple of months, you could see all kind of stuff coming down the pike. I’m kind of out of the storm right now, but I get calls every 15 minutes asking me about this or that or who might do something.”

Berry has yet to draw a strong GOP challenger, but Republicans have put him in their crosshairs, as they have with Ross and Lincoln.

Pressed on his own plans, Berry said he couldn’t be sure.

“Nothing is certain in this world except death, and I hope don’t have to face that anytime soon,” he said. “But beyond that, I’m not going to make an absolute (commitment). I’m 67 years old; who knows what I’ve got coming to me before the sun goes down?”