Posted on 03/07/2012 10:47:52 AM PST by Clintonfatigued
Maine Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree has opted not to run for retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe’s seat.
“After careful consideration I have decided to run for re-election to the U.S. House this year,” she said in a statement. “There is much at stake in this election and although the prospect of running for and possibly serving in the United States Senate was very exciting, in the end I concluded that I will best serve the people of Maine by running for re-election to the House.”Maine Democrats over the last days expressed fears about the Independent candidacy of former Gov. Angus King and how that would affect Democratic prospects for picking up the Republican-held seat. But when asked on Tuesday, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (Wash.) would not rule out the possibility that King would caucus with Democrats — increasing speculation that the former governor could become the de facto Democrat in the race.
Pingree had “taken out papers” from the state secretary of state’s office, which is the first step in launching a campaign in Maine. But that move was made prior to her decision because of the approaching filing deadline on March 15.
The decision will be a major letdown for her liberal base. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee and MoveOn.org were out front hours after Snowe’s announcement encouraging Pingree to run.
The Congresswoman is the second serious Democratic contender to shy away from the race. Rep. Mike Michaud, who represents the state’s more conservative 2nd district, announced last week he would not be seeking the Democratic nod after taking the first steps toward building a campaign.
As late as Thursday, it appeared likely that the two Maine Members were waiting for each other to blink so one could run for the seat.
(Excerpt) Read more at atr.rollcall.com ...
This is a huge development, as Pingree could have self-financed her campaign through her mega-wealthy husband. Now all eyes are on ex-Governor John Baldacci, unless he also backs down and his party backs Angus King.
This race has featured one surprise after another. Maine’s politics have long been unpredictable.
I would bet that King’s a lock.
Looks like King has cut a deal with Reid that will make him the deFacto Rat in the race. DNC will guarantee no one runs as Dem.
Once king left the Blaine House, he never ran for another office.
The papers will attack once a democrat challenger comes forward.
But; there may not be a democrat challenger. Baldacci has to have 2,000 signatures in a week. Many of the party loyal were out this weekend getting signatures for Chellie Pingree. How happy will they be to go out again with even less time ?
Elliot Cutler is the other wild card. He’s got his own party and has had a team in place for a long time.
It’s going to be fun to watch.
Mainers, check my tag;
“Looks like King has cut a deal with Reid that will make him the deFacto Rat in the race. DNC will guarantee no one runs as Dem.”
The Dems will run somebody, even if its a token candidate.
Translation: "I'm not running for a slot I can't win."
This is fantastic news! Once less Maine moonbat seeking the US senate seat. I bet Pingree saw the internals polls
with Angus King in the race-she was probably coming in third. With Michaud and Pingree out, the Dems don’t have a candidate with strong name recognition. At the state level there are no state-wide Demorats. Maine is unique I think.
The governor is the only elected state-wide official. There is no Lt. governor and all of the offices, such as Secretary of State and so forth are appointed by the state legislature-so the party that has a majority of the state house and senate seats combined appoints all of the state-wide offices.
King may be liberal-I have spoken to him a couple of times.
He is at least someone who I think will listen to us.
She ain’t runnin’ ‘cause they couldn’t spell her name right on the ballot. Sounds like some kind of spice that you cook with...
.
How is this fantastic ? We need a Dem moonbat to run to split the vote with King in order to elect a semi-sane Republican. King will just be another leftist tool in the Senate.
Well, I would take Angus King over Chellie Pingree any day of the year. But you are right, if a Demorat runs, a Republican candidate has a chance.
However, in 2010, Libby Mitchell, moonbat Demorat,was suppose to be a shoo-in. The independent Cutler was to siphon votes off from Paul LePage. It did not work that way. About a week before the election, Libby Mitchell had only 18% of the vote a distant third, and quitely told her supporters to vote for Culter. In fact, people who had voted absentee ballot for Mitchell came in on election day, cancelled their absentee ballot and voted for Cutler.
King pretending to be an “Independent” is a joke. He’s a Democrat. That’s why the national party is fawning over his candidacy. I was a bit more confident of LePage’s general victory, the race was chock full of leftists and he was the sole sane candidate. He’d have had more trouble if the left had unified behind one candidate. If Baldacci doesn’t run for Senator officially as a Dem, King is all but a shoo-in.
I wonder if Michaud would have been allowed to submit signatures for both House and Senate and then make his decision after he sees who else is running?
Raye (for Congress Me-2) was a pro-abort candidate. Is he worthless?
I’ve met the famous D’Amboise. A fiesty minor leaguer.
Jason Levesque, no sign of him.
Raye vs. Michaud means the Dem is better on the life issue. I’m not sure I could vote for a pro-abort Republican (one big reason I will never vote for Slick Willard).
First Wind owned by Angus King
DEVELOPING: KING WIND PROJECT CITED BY CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION
King directorship at a troubled Maine bank
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.