Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Senator Olympia Snowe announced moments ago on her Facebook page that she would not be running for re-election:
After an extraordinary amount of reflection and consideration, I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the United States Senate. After 33 years in the Congress this was not an easy decision. My husband and I are in good health. We have laid an exceptionally strong foundation for the campaign, and I have no doubt I would have won re-election. It has been an indescribable honor and immeasurable privilege to serve the people of Maine, first in both houses of Maine’s legislature and later in both houses of Congress. To this day, I remain deeply passionate about public service, and I cherish the opportunity I have been given for nearly four decades to help improve the lives of my fellow Mainers.
This move may be a welcome development for Maine's Tea Party-backed Governor, Paul LePage, who will now be free to endorse a more conservative candidate. LePage drew ire last year from Conservatives for declaring that he would support Snowe's re-election. For LePage, though, it was a matter of personal loyalty:
[LePage] says Snowe’s late hus[b]and Peter Snowe helped to get him off welfare and into college. His support for Senator Snowe, he says, “transcends politics,” due to his relationship with and “respect” for the Snowe family.
I used to live in Maine (I grew up there), but I'm not up on who might run to replace her. Anyone have any ideas? Both Maine's US Representatives are Democrats.
Governor Paul LePage and Senator Olympia Snowe walk in the
Moxie Day Parade, Lisbon Falls, Maine, July 9, 2009
Update: Bangor Daily News (H/T HotAir):
Snowe’s reason for taking a pass on re-election, especially when she was so enthusiastically running up to this point, and especially as close to the filing deadline as this is, are mysterious. As I said before, this kind of thing does not happen in politics.
I am told her own staff was unaware of this decision until just hours before the statement went out – just long enough to actually work on the release and send it out.
Interesting. What could be her reasons? I'm thinking something akin to why David Palmer didn't run for a second presidential term!
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Jan '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Often criticized as a RINO, it's important to remember that Snowe was elected to the House in 1978. She won re-election seven times -- thrice with over 75% of the vote -- and then went onto a successful Senate career, winning three elections, each with a margin exceeding 35% and the last time -- in 2006, one of the worst electoral years ever for the Republicans -- with 74% of the vote.
We tolerate her moderation/squishiness on certain issues and in exchange she votes with the GOP 58% of the time.
May '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Albert Arthur
I used to live in Maine (I grew up there), but I'm not up on who might run to replace her. Anyone have any ideas? Both Maine's US Representatives are Democrats.
· 20 minutes ago
Wikipedia has Scott d'Amboise as the only declared Republican candidate so far. The listed potential candidates are:
Feb '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Tristan Abbey:
We tolerate her moderation/squishiness on certain issues and in exchange she votes with the GOP 58% of the time.
If Obama gets reelected we're going to need Senators who do better than that.
May '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
And if she's replaced by a Democrat will anyone really notice?
Jan '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Yes. Especially if GOP doesn't win the Senate by 1 vote.
Oct '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
We'll notice 42% of the time?
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
I've never begrudged Snowe her ideology -- in certain states, you're going to have to accept someone of her moderate ilk for the Senate if you want to create a governing majority.
What I do resent, however, is the way she went out. Apparently, neither Mitch McConnell nor John Cornyn knew of this announcement before this morning. Maine would be a very tough contest for the GOP under any circumstances, but the state's filing deadline is March 15 -- two weeks from Thursday -- and now they're working from scratch. It says something about Snowe that she chose to end her career by abandoning her supposed allies.
Edited on February 29, 2012 at 1:19amSep '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
bye
Mar '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Troy Senik, Ed.:
What I do resent, however, is the way she went out. Apparently, neither Mitch McConnell nor John Cornyn knew of this announcement before this morning. Maine would be a very tough contest for the GOP under any circumstances, but the state's filing deadline is March 15 -- two weeks from Thursday -- and now they're working from scratch. It says something about Snowe that she chose to end her career by abandoning her supposed allies.
If you read her remarks today, she bemoans the partisanship of the Senate in recent years in what sounds like a parting shot at some of her Republican colleagues. I imagine the timing of her announcement is no coincidence.
Edited on February 29, 2012 at 1:32amOct '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Snowe always was a flake, if you get my drift, and you can take that to the bank.
Thank you, thank you, I'll be here til my membership is rescinded.
Dec '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Bet she's been appointed to an ambassadorship. Bet you a dollar.
May '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Too many of both parties stay waaaaaaaayyyyyyy too long. She could have done it the Illinois way, won the primary then announced, and then got the party to nominate a relative or crony.
Jan '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
You're on! ;-) If she hasn't been appointed by May 1, let's say?
Dec '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
The fact that the announcement took everyone by surprise makes me wonder if she received some bad medical news.
Well, I read her statement more closely...she says she's in good health.
Edited on February 29, 2012 at 2:02amMar '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Further, if our Senate strategy absolutely depends on a single seat, then it's a failure in any case. One seat shouldn't make a difference. If it does, it's time for newer, better leadership. Oh wait, what was 2010 about again?
May '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Tristan, you make that 58% of the time sound impressive, while the WaPo describes it as "only." Doesn't her voting record include votes that are uncontroversial? Naming post offices and such?
Jan '11
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Perhaps someone brought a gun to a knife fight.
May '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
"33 years in the Congress." That's one of the great problems of American politics, right there.
May '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Is Christine O'Donnell available to establish residency?
Dec '10
Re: Olympia Snowe to Retire Update: Last Minute Decision?
Tristan Abbey
You're on! ;-) If she hasn't been appointed by May 1, let's say? · 2 hours ago
You got it.