 CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'No Clear Favorite'.Shays won 51% of the vote in 2006 and 52% in 2004 in a district that went to John Kerry with 53% in 2004 (CPVI=D+5).In September, 2007, Shays indicated that if he was not given the top Republican seat on the Governmental Oversight Committee, he would retire.