Antonnage Not Running In 2010

Former CNS senator will not seek office in 2010 election

CHRISTON, WIK--Former Senator Marie Antonnage (C-POG) will not run for office in 2010, despite heavy speculation from both sides of the political aisle.

The popular former Conservative leader made the announcement Wednesday at a press conference in Christon. She was widely rumored to be considering a third run for the Senate in Wilkonshire, or a possible return to POG, the state she formerly represented, to run for the Senate there. However, in the short press conference, Antonnage said she was ending all speculation.

"I have come to the conclusion that now is not the time for me to run for public office. It would not be in the best interest of me, my family, or the people," notably lacking specificity on the people of which constituency. She continued, "Instead of seeking office myself, I will continue to work to elect strong, firm Conservative leaders to the Senate, the Assembly, and other state-wide offices across the country."

Antonnage's announcement was a blow to Wilkonshire Conservatives, who were counting on her to run against either Senators Sylvea Stone (NAT) or Terry Branlin (NAT), both of whom are up for re-election. Besides Antonnage, the CNS has few potential candidates to put up against Stone and Branlin. The only competitive candidate appears to be former Gov. John R. Agnew, who is reportedly contemplating a bid for the Senate.

Antonnage, who previously represented Province of Grassadella, resigned in 2007 to run for the Senate in Wilkonshire. She lost to Nationalist Terry Branlin by a narrow margin of 51%-49%. Mrs. Antonnage then ran again in 2008, this time against NAT incumbent Tom O'Hearn, and lost by a slightly larger margin of 52%-48%, respectively.

After her loss to O'Hearn, speculation swirled the former beloved Conservative leader would either run for the Senate in Wilkonshire a third time in the 2010 election, or move back to POG and run for the Senate there, where she still has high favorability ratings. Strategically, Antonnage would have a better chance of winning in the more conservative-leaning Province of Grassadella than the decidedly more liberal state of Wilkonshire.

But now, with no ambitions for 2010, Antonnage will said she will stay in Wilkonshire, and continue to fundraise and help support like-minded Conservative candidates across the country, specifically through her political action committee (PAC) she created, called Common Sense Conservativism (CSC-PAC).

Mrs. Antonnage did not comment on future political ambitions beyond 2010, only saying she is happy to help the CNS party in the 2010 mid-term elections.