NELSON TO RETIRE FROM U.S. SENATE

DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR BEN NELSON OF NEBRASKA SAYS HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR.

NELSON POSTED A VIDEO STATEMENT ON YOU TUBE SAYING IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE NEBRASKA AS BOTH SENATOR AND GOVERNOR:

NELSON SAYS HE HOPES WHOEVER SUCCEEDS HIM WILL WORK IN BI-PARTISAN WAYS TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COUNTRY, NOT FOR JUST ONE POLITICAL PARTY:

NELSON'S RETIREMENT WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR DEMOCRATS TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE U.S. SENATE.

DEMOCRATS WILL DEFEND 23 SEATS IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION COMPARED TO TEN REPUBLICAN SEATS.