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This just sucks
Liberal darling Chellie Pingree won’t run for Snowe’s seat
In a move that could complicate the Democratic Party’s efforts to hold the Senate, Dem Rep. Chellie Pingree — a favorite of national liberals and progressives — has decided not to run for the seat of retiring Olympia Snowe, a Democrat familiar with her thinking tells me.
The decision will disappoint national liberal groups who had mounted a campaign to draft her for the race. Pingree is seen by liberals as an unabashed defender of progressive principles — she has been an aggressive advocate for the public option and for marriage equality, and has crusaded against corporate money in politics. Installing her in Snowe’s seat would have been a major coup for the left, which is perpetually looking for progressive voices to counterbalance “moderate” Dems that are often too politically skittish to embrace the liberal/Dem agenda.
But Pingree, after looking closely at her chances, determined that entering the race could pose too great a risk to Dem chances of holding the Senate, the Democrat familiar with her thinking tells me. Pingree did see a path to winning, and passing on the race cut against her competitive nature. But the entry of independent former governor Angus King would have meant they’d compete for many of the same voters, making a Republican victory more likely — a risk she was not prepared to take, the Democrat says.
In a move that could complicate the Democratic Party’s efforts to hold the Senate, Dem Rep. Chellie Pingree — a favorite of national liberals and progressives — has decided not to run for the seat of retiring Olympia Snowe, a Democrat familiar with her thinking tells me.
The decision will disappoint national liberal groups who had mounted a campaign to draft her for the race. Pingree is seen by liberals as an unabashed defender of progressive principles — she has been an aggressive advocate for the public option and for marriage equality, and has crusaded against corporate money in politics. Installing her in Snowe’s seat would have been a major coup for the left, which is perpetually looking for progressive voices to counterbalance “moderate” Dems that are often too politically skittish to embrace the liberal/Dem agenda.
But Pingree, after looking closely at her chances, determined that entering the race could pose too great a risk to Dem chances of holding the Senate, the Democrat familiar with her thinking tells me. Pingree did see a path to winning, and passing on the race cut against her competitive nature. But the entry of independent former governor Angus King would have meant they’d compete for many of the same voters, making a Republican victory more likely — a risk she was not prepared to take, the Democrat says.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/liberal-darling-chellie-pingree-wont-run-for-snowes-seat/2012/03/07/gIQA89y2wR_blog.html
Chellie drops out because Angus King dropped in on as an independent, and says he will caucus with Dems. She steps down, so she won't split votes with Angus, and women lose out increasing their percentage in Congress. This sucks, and to top it all off another woman who would have run for Chellie's seat, won't run either.
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