Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay announced Monday night that he was retiring from Congress, telling MSNBC's Chris Matthews that it would be better for the Republican Party for him to end his reelection bid.

DeLay broke the news to Matthews in a phone call shortly after 10 pm.

"He told me that although the polls showed him going down - losing - he thought he had a 50/50 chance of wnning," the talk host told MSNBC's "Scarborough Country."

Mr. DeLay's act could be construed as one of good party leadership given emerging indications that he would not be a viable candidate this year as he continues to face various corruption-related legal battles.