Posted on 03/06/2012 5:27:39 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
A poll released today by Public Policy Polling, a national Democratic firm, found that independent former Gov. Angus King would narrowly win a three-way race against Democratic Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Republican Secretary of State Charlie Summers.
Former independent Gov. Angus King, left, Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree and Secretary of State Charlie Summers, a Republican.
King garners 36 percent of the vote to Pingree's 31 percent and Summers' 28 percent because he pulls away 35 percent of Democratic voters from Pingree and garners 53 percent of the vote from independents, compared to 25 percent of the GOP vote, PPP's poll of 1,256 Maine voters found.
But King might have to pledge to caucus with Senate Democrats to retain that type of support, according to the PPP poll.
While 51 percent of his supporters want him to caucus with Democrats, just 25 percent want him to caucus with Republicans. Independents favor King caucusing with Democrats by a 40-27 percent margin, the poll found.
"Angus King and Chellie Pingree look like the early favorites in Maine," said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, in a statement. "King will have a hard time holding onto his early Democratic support without a pledge to caucus with the party if he's elected to the Senate."
(Excerpt) Read more at pressherald.com ...
It’s still very early, but Chellie Pingree is hesitating rather than jumping into the race. Among Republicans, it seems that Secretary of State Charlie Summers is the most likely nominee. Anything can happen.
Maine is hopeless...
Since Maine has had a series of Anus U.S. Senators, maybe inserting the “g” in the middle will change things.
If the Dems decline to field a first tier candidate, you will know that some type of deal is afoot. But in a genuine 3 way race, the GOP has a good shot.
I voted for Angus over Susan Collins for governor. Ideologically he is similar to Collins or Snowe he could and would caucus with the majority. If he was breaking a tie he would go to the democrats IMO.
I was afraid King might have a decisive edge. This poll indicates it’s anyone’s game. A Republican worth his salt should be able to get about the same 38% or so that Paul LePage got.
But will the democrats pull a Kendrick Meek special and abandon their horse for King if it looks like the Republican might win?
“But will the democrats pull a Kendrick Meek special and abandon their horse for King if it looks like the Republican might win?”
At some point, King will have to start talking about issues, and he will lose either GOP or Dem support. I like our chances in a three-way race if we run a moderate-to-conservative Republican—not a Jesse Helms (LePage isn’t Jesse Helms), but certainly not a Snowe or Collins.
“But will the democrats pull a Kendrick Meek special “
Remind me again .. who won that race??? :-) :-)
Seems like a win/win for us in Maine, we get an Indie middle of road type (which is what Snowe / Collins are anyway) or we get an actual Republican. I guess the D could win if we put up a weak candidate, but ... Much better odds than a straight up R vs D race.
Did you vote for him in 1998?
Pingree has bowed out in apparent deference to King who calls her a “friend”.
Pingree: “We have seen three-way contests before become very complex (in Maine) and I didn’t want to take the chance that my entering the race would make it more likely for a Republican to be the next senator from the state of Maine,”
If Baldacci quits too we’ll know the fix is in and that powerful rats favor King.
likely some of them jumped in to collect signatures to distract anybody from collecting signatures for other DEMS. So that no real candidate was able to get on the primary ballot. But the
But Dunlap and Dill were running all along and I am sure have continued and will be on the ballot in june. Yes>?
Someone will be on the rat ballot line. This is not a Bernie Sanders situation, King is not liberal enough for a number of Maine democrats.
But if it’s some chump that only gets 20% of the vote?
“If Baldacci quits too we’ll know the fix is in and that powerful rats favor King.”
Perfectly stated.
I don’t remember who ran against him for reelection? Not sure.
The Republican was James Longley Jr., the former 1 term Congressman. The rat was named Thomas Connolly.
King won with over 58%. Longley was runner up with just 19%.
This might be a blessing in disguise, because I cant imagine every single Democrat in maine just bowing out for an indie candidate.
Baldacci is out.
The rat will probably be former Sec of State Matt Dunlap.
Republicans have a short time before they can get enough signatures to get on the ballot.
OK, if Dunlap gets 25% of the vote, that means that the GOP candidate needs 38% to win; if Dunlap gets 20%, our candidate would need 40%. That’s more or less what LePage got in 2010. We can win this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.