Independent Angus King holds big lead in Maine Senate race

[steve2470]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/independent-angus-king-holds-big-lead-maine-senate/story?id=16595936#.T991QJIxh-0

Last week, Maine voters chose the Democratic and Republican nominees for the open U.S. Senate seat, but Independent former Gov. Angus King continues to rule the race, according to a new poll.

King, who served as governor from 1995 to 2003, leads among likely voters with 50 percent support, according to a new MassINC poll commissioned by Boston NPR affiliate WBUR . Republican nominee Charlie Summers, the Maine Secretary of State, received 23 percent and Democratic nominee Cynthia Dill, a state senator, received 9 percent. The poll, conducted June 13-14, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Steven Koczela, the president of the MassINC explained in a radio interview Monday morning, that King begins the race with a lead simply because of his past experience. "He has considerably higher name recognition than his opponents," Koczela said on WBUR's Morning Edition. Koczela added that the poll found King's favorability rating to be 60 percent. Just 5 percent of respondents said they had never heard of King, compared to 23 percent for Summers and 35 percent for Dill.

Most of King's support stems from Democratic and Independent voters, said Koczela.

[Ian David]

1. He says he'll caucus with who ever gives him the best committee assignments.

So at least we know what he is, we're just haggling over the price.

[dsc]

4. actually I don't think he said that

He said that he would try to caucus issue by issue which is admittedly absurd.

[Ian David]

5. That's what they reported on NPR this morning. That it would be who ever gives him more. n/t

[hrmjustin]

2. he will caucus with who controls the senate! n/t

[southernyankeebelle]

3. If he is getting the majority votes from dems and indep then I suggest he better think twice about

going with the republicans.

[jberryhill]

6. The Angus King?