Angus King in the Senate race!

[MaineDem]

Just announced at Bowdoin.

[msongs]

1. he is NOT A DEMOCRAT. thanks but NO thanks nt nt

[RBInMaine]

11. He is more progressive than Snowe and would caucus with the Dems.

He endorsed Kerry and Obama and supported both with money and events. Most Dems can support him. We can't risk a split electorate and allowing a RePub to win. I can support King.

[Dawson Leery]

2. How does this affect the Democratic candidates?

Will this throw the seat to the GOP?

[Old and In the Way]

4. It will a replay of the 2010 Governor's race.

62% of Mainers voter for either the Democrat or the Independent...the Republican teabagger wins. We could well end up with another teabagger in Congress if King and/or any other Independent wants to get in and help split the vote between the liberals/prgressives in this state.

[Old and In the Way]

3. This sucks.

Sorry, Angus, but you how this plays out. We'll be splitting the vote and the republican will win. Sorry, I thought you were a reasonable governor and would make a reasonable Senator...but you know the state of binary politics in this country and you entry helps the republican to retain the seat. Thanks for nothing.

[RBInMaine]

12. If Chellie stays out, King wins and we can live with that.

Chellie should stay out. We need her to hold her current seat. If a more minor Dem comes in, King get plenty of votes to win. We can not risk splitting the vote with a big name Dem in the race. Dems can live with King. He's more progressive than Snowe and would surely caucus with the Dems. He endorsed Obama and Kerry.

[Old and In the Way]

13. I think it's unrealistic to think the Maine Democratic Party is going to give up that seat

opportunity without a fight. King will pull some D voters, no question...but I personally won't be one of them, unless the Party decides to get behind King and endorse him. I just don't think that's going to happen. So, we'll have a replay of 2010 Governorship and the same results...unless there's a 4th entry in the race with a candidate that runs to the right of the Republican nominee.

[MaineDem]

5. I think it depends on where he'll caucus if elected.

He could be like Sanders and (gag) Lieberman and caucus with the Dems.

Tomorrow will be a very very interesting day.

[Old and In the Way]

6. I'd have no issues with him being elected....

I just don't see he gets there in a 3 way race. Republicans win.

[MaineDem]

7. I bet there are a lot of phone calls and emails tonight

I just don't want to lose this opportunity.

[Old and In the Way]

8. A few years back, I sat next to Angus on a flight from Bangor to Boston

I introduced myself and we had a good chat. I think we're in big trouble with this election if he's serious...I hope he reconsiders...or elects to run in the Democratic primary where he might do well and win the nomination outright. He'll lose my respect and a lot of other people in maine if he spoils this race and we end up with a teabagger. If we had instant runoff elections, I'd feel differently...but we don't.

[luckyleftyme2]

9. he will get the vote

As much as the right beat on him and his puters for kids it has been an overwhelming success. I believe Angus will take a lot of the independent vote and his share from both parties! Guessing if the vote was held today he would pull 40% of the vote while the right would pull 28% and the left would 32%. There are many p.o. republicans in this state that are not happy with "LePage" or some of his administration. The way this Poliquin debacle has lingered and the non-finding by the state atty: general's office or the limitations of questions to be allowed of the court smells of controlling the results!~
this will cost the right many votes!
I think he will be a very strong candidate-one that both party members will vote for!
He is a great speaker and would definetly represent the people of Maine well. And he certainly can hold his own with the old guard in either party!!

[Po_d Mainiac]

23. Agnus is a dollar whore

As Gov he was bought and paid for by CMP.

We can discuss this further, I'm buying the (brew pour je) (vino pour elle)

I'm grilling...Ironic the steaks will be black angus

[RBInMaine]

10. Chellie Pingree should stay OUT of this Senate race. Let Angus win.

Chellie Pingree would make a great US Senator, but we all know the risk of splitting the moderate to progressive vote and throwing the election to a right winger like Summers. The Rs are good at keeping their base in line, and we can not afford allowing the Senate seat to go to a Republican even worse than Snowe. As we saw in 2010 in the governors race being split and tossing it to LeBuffoon, with Chellie in the Senate race that could very well happen again. Chellie would be sure to hold her current seat. Like Mike Michaud, she should do just that. We can not afford a repeat of 2010 and the electoral split that allowed LeBuffoon to become governor. Angus King endorsed Kerry and Obama. He is formerly a registered Dem and more progressive than Snowe. He would surely caucus with the Dems. He is someone most Dems can easily live with, even support. I'm for Chellie doing like Mike and staying put. I know, it is a tough one. Being from the 2nd CD I know the landscape. We can't allow the Rs to win that seat, and we need to think big picture and what is best for the whole state. I would love to see Chellie as a US Senator, but splitting the vote and throwing to an R is something we just can not risk. She should be advised to stay put and hold her House seat.

[mainer]

14. What you said.

Chellie and Angus cannot fight this out in the ballot box.

Let Angus win.

[RBInMaine]

18. It is gut-wrenching, but yes, I totally agree. She can't win with him in it.

[high density]

20. I agree

As much as I dislike Angus King, I'd rather have him over whatever nutjob the GOP is going to put forward. We need Pingree in the House.

[MaineDem]

15. I don't think anyone should be supporting an Independent on DU

We don't know who the Dem candidate will be. We don't even know if there WILL be a Democratic candidate.

But, in the meantime, this is Democratic Underground.

We don't know where King will come down on things like a Blunt or Rubio. And if he thinks he'll get a good committee assignment by not caucusing with either party he's nuts.

I want to know which side of the aisle he's on. There's no way he can be in the middle on yes/no questions.

[mainer]

16. yes we do know where he'll come down on Blunt

He is a social liberal. He contributed $1000 to the gay marriage campaign here. I have no hesitation supporting him.

[RBInMaine]

17. We have the DUTY to say what is best for the party and state.

As said, in a perfect world we'd all love to have Chellie. But SHE CAN'T WIN with King in the race. I understand the Maine electorate, and especially the 2nd CD. Better to affirm King, a social progressive and a fiscal moderate, rather than allow the race to go to a RePUKE asshat like Summers. The one consolation here is that the GOP field is weak. I think King could win even if Chellie does get it, but Chellie can not put together the coalition she needs to win with King in the race. Plain and simple. And anyone who denies it is merely in denial. It would be BAD for the party and for Chellie to lose the race, and it would be bad for the party. She should make like Michaud, stay out, and let King, who would be a center-left moderate and would caucus with the Dems, have the seat.

[MaineDem]

19. But, this isn't Independent Underground. n/t

[high density]

21. It's also not "Let's vote for the Democrat no matter what so we get a teabag senator Underground"

Libby Mitchell is too fresh in my mind. If I have to choose between King and a Republican, I will choose King. I think Pingree is the only Democratic candidate that would have any honest chance of winning, and she should defend the spot she's in right now. The other people are mostly unknowns or undesirables (Baldacci... really?!)

I do not want to watch another 3 way race go to the teabaggers. King says he doesn't want to be a "spoiler", but his actions seem to indicate otherwise. You can't say in March you are running, go through an entire campaign, and then "drop out in the fall."

In a three-way match-up of independent former Gov. Angus King — who launched his campaign Monday night — Pingree for the Democrats, and Republican state Secretary of State Charlie Summers, it is King who leads with 36% in a close three-way race, followed by Pingree at 31%, and Summers narrowly in third place with 28%.

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/poll-angus-king-stars-out-ahead-in-maine-senate-race.php

That's way too close for comfort in my opinion.

[luckyleftyme2]

22. reply to maine dem.

you know why he ran as an independent as well as I do! And the right doesn't have a chance against him-Summers is a loser! he has a record of losing! even if Snowe and company backs him Summers will lose will lose! Poliquin has no chance -the working class will vote against him!
I know him(angus) as a dedicated person with sound judgement and he will serve this state well if elected!
Many mainers have left both parties because of the top not listening to the average voter!
I support chellie 100% in her present position and hope she holds on to her seat.
I don't need anyone telling me not to vote for who I think is the best person for the job!
the tea party in maine is a minority! It was exploited by the press and like all last weeks news it has reached its peak and is now fading into the sunset!
the polls show that LePage and company is losing followers by the truck load! the 61% of independents and democrats now equal over 72%! all the money in texas won't buy this senate race-but we can lose it alienating independents!