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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDemocrats suddenly have a Maine headache
http://www.salon.com/2012/03/05/democrats_suddenly_have_a_maine_headache/Angus King (Credit: AP/Pat Wellenbach)
When Olympia Snowe made her surprise retirement announcement last week, Democrats across the country rejoiced. The three-term Republican had been the clear favorite to win reelection, but given Maines partisan bent, her Senate seat suddenly seemed theirs to lose. The national implications were significant: a Democratic pickup in Maine would force Republicans to gain a net total of five seats this fall in order to recapture the chamber (or four if the GOP presidential nominee wins).
But now things are a lot more tricky, with Mondays news that Angus King, who attained massive popularity as governor from 1995 to 2003, is set to enter the race as an independent. In most states, a third-party Senate candidacy would be a long shot, but Maine is probably the most independent-friendly state in America. Two independents King and James Longley, who served from 1975 to 1979 have been elected governor since the 1970s, and Eliot Cutler came within 2 points of becoming the third in 2010. The state is also one of only two in which Ross Perot finished second in 1992.
So King, who was elected in 1994 in a squeaker and reelected in a 40-point rout four years later, absolutely could win. If he does, control of the Senate could end up resting on his decision. And even if he doesnt win, Kings presence could alter the math by draining votes disproportionately from one of the major party candidates presumably the Democrat, given his cultural liberalism.
Thus, theres now reason for Democrats to worry. But Kings entrance doesnt have to be bad news for them. Here are four ways his political comeback might play out:
1. The Democrats nightmare all over again: In 2010, Maine elected one of the most conservative governors in America, Paul LePage. A blunt-spoken favorite of the Tea Party movement, LePage rode his grass-roots support to a stunning upset in the GOP primary. Under more ordinary circumstances, thats where his luck would have run out, and LePages provocative, far-right antics would have scared off swing voters in the fall and made him the Maine equivalent of Sharron Angle. But with Cutler, a moderate former Ed Muskie aide, waging a well-funded independent bid, the anti-LePage vote was split, and the GOP nominee was elected with just 38 percent of the vote.
He did endorse Kerry and Obama.Yes he did endose Bush back In 2000.But,that was the socalled Conservative trying to sell himself
as Moderate Bush.Anyone who suported Bush and then saw error of his ways are supported Kerry has Intelligence.He's not the kind
that would be welcomed In republican party.King may be better than Lieberman.He could be what Snowe and Collins pretend to be
moderate.While I would prefer a real Democrat for seat It's not all bad news here.
Thrill
(19,178 posts)strong enough to beat him? Jeesh
mainer
(12,034 posts)I'll support him.
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)Or even running (like Lieberman did) as an independent (D)?
If so I think we could not run an actual (D) in that race and just keep this guy happy.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)a good job when he was in.
in 2010 in the gov race, the dem candidate, libby mitchell, hid the fact that her campaign was broke; she should have dropepd out. the independant running was basically a democrat, and could have won easily if not for that. instead the vote was split and we got lepage...
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)and take the easy win, if only to save DNC money for other races.
Even if we need to give him something in return (promised committee seats) it would still be a win.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)when i was growing up in maine.
we could recruit him, it'd be nice, but he'd probably be the bernie sanders (although nowhere near as liberal as bern) type of "I", who is basically a "D"... not the holy joe type of "I" which means "R"...
SwampG8r
(10,287 posts)the same people who demand party unity will toss the dem candidate under the bus to chase after the independent
good luck with your new republican senator
here in florida the "vote for the independent" crowd got us marco rubio while the tried to elect crist
xchrom
(108,903 posts)supporting crist -- and the reasons they gave for it.
at this juncture -- i'm fairly indifferent to the outcomes of main stream politics.