Delay Withdraws (UPDATED)

Tom Delay has withdrawn from his re-election bid in Texas' 22nd district, reports my friend and yours, Chris Matthews. There aren't many details yet, but it appears that the combination of low polling numbers and the promise of a devastatingly brutal campaign have convinced Delay to withdraw. The country will indeed be better off without this man in the House of Representatives. Plenty more later.

Note (Added at 11:11PM): Here's a post from January where I note the irony of Delay's gerrymandering scheme. Yes, I used the same photo - its so appropriate.

UPDATE (11:23PM): Time's Mike Allen has more. This is definitely one of those stories where every media outlet will claim that they have the real scoop and that they broke it first. Personally, I don't care who broke it first. I'm just excited to hear the news.

Also, Hotline On Call rightly adds this:

According to TX law, the party can fill a vacated nomination. It's why the NRCC desperately needed DeLay to win the March primary so they could find the best candidate to hold the GOP-leaning CD, rather than roll the dice with an unknown. The fact that DeLay's resignation announcement comes just three days after ex-aide Tony Rudy copped a plea is going to provide plenty of grist for the scandal mill.