King is in! Angus King (I-ME) to run for Snowe's seat.

[Keystone Phil]

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/01/politics/elections/angus-king-mulling-run-for-senate/?ref=relatedSidebar

Looks like he's seriously considering a run and with Michaud (arguably a stronger candidate than Pingree) out of the race, could this possibly be a real fight for the Dems to win?

I operate under worst case scenario with this stuff so the second Snowe announced she was leaving, I counted it as an automatic Dem pick up. Who knows what could happen now especially if the GOP nominates a mainstream candidate...

[Svensson]

If he runs, my only comment is as follows: Hell. The f**k. Yes. Seriously, I'm almost certain I'll prefer him to anyone either state party can churn out.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

King would probably win any three way race.

[MilesC56]

Who would he caucus with?

[Ebowed]

Who would he caucus with?

He endorsed Bush in 2000, Kerry in 2004, and Obama in 2008.

[Vosem]

Who would he caucus with?

I think nobody, if only to prove a point (he's always tried to remain very neutral between the parties), but in practice he's closer to the Democrats, if not by much.

[Kevin]

I'd prob support King if he did run.

[smoltchanov]

I'd prob support King if he did run.

Me too)))

[Senator Snowstalker]

Why does Maine have so many independent candidates?

[Vasall des Midas]

Why does Maine have so many independent candidates?

Because they're cool.

Endorsed. Especially since Michaud's not running.

[Is Totally Not Feeblepizza.]

Senator King would be a dream come true.

[Invisible Obama]

He hasn't been elected in over a decade, I'm not sure how that would work out. A Senate campaign as an independent is a lot different a gubernatorial one. He'd have to pick a caucus in order to get any committee assignments, so independent doesn't really go as far as it really seems it would.

[Is Totally Not Feeblepizza.]

He hasn't been elected in over a decade, I'm not sure how that would work out. A Senate campaign as an independent is a lot different a gubernatorial one. He'd have to pick a caucus in order to get any committee assignments, so independent doesn't really go as far as it really seems it would.

Seeing as how he endorsed Kerry in 2004 and Obama in 2008, he would probably caucus with the Democrats.

[bgwah]

It would be pretty cool if we consistently had at least 2 independents in the Senate for 12 years (and at least one for 18).

[Is Totally Not Feeblepizza.]

It would be pretty cool if we consistently had at least 2 independents in the Senate for 12 years (and at least one for 18).

I have often wondered why those two independents don't just start their own caucus. Do the Senate rules contain a provision explicitly stating that you must have x number of members before you found a new caucus?

[JulioMadrid]

I'd support him. Congress needs more independent voices. I feel he'd be a damn good senator. IIRC, he's a liberal on social issues.

ANd he'd probably caucus with democrats

In the case he doesn't run, do you think Elliot Cutler could win that seat as an indep.?

[greenforest32]

King should stay out.

A battle between left-wing Democrats and right-wing Republicans will be far more productive than pretending some independent can come to Congress and fix the problems which stem from our electoral and campaign finance systems.

[Svensson]

A battle between left-wing Democrats and right-wing Republicans will be far more productive than pretending some independent can come to Congress and fix the problems which stem from our electoral and campaign finance systems.

A two-way would also almost inevitably end in a massive political bitchslap right over Maine's collective head, because I'm all but certain whoever else they'd elect would be horrible.

[GPORTER]

I hope King runs

[wormyguy]

Just anecdotally, it looks like King was stronger in liberal areas both times he ran for Governor.

http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=23&year=1994&f=0&off=5&elect=0
http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=23&year=1998&f=0&off=5&elect=0

[Nagas]

King is a moderate Democrat without the D next to his name.

[ChairmanSanchez]

Is he running as an indie? Or for ironies sweet, sweet sake, a Reform Party candidate?

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

It would be pretty cool if we consistently had at least 2 independents in the Senate for 12 years (and at least one for 18).

I have often wondered why those two independents don't just start their own caucus. Do the Senate rules contain a provision explicitly stating that you must have x number of members before you found a new caucus?

Because one is a centrist and the other is the most far left guy in the Senate.

[Is Totally Not Feeblepizza.]

It would be pretty cool if we consistently had at least 2 independents in the Senate for 12 years (and at least one for 18).

I have often wondered why those two independents don't just start their own caucus. Do the Senate rules contain a provision explicitly stating that you must have x number of members before you found a new caucus?

Because one is a centrist and the other is the most far left guy in the Senate.

Well, yeah, but wouldn't it make a statement about "bipartisanship" and "independent thinking" and all that?

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

It would be pretty cool if we consistently had at least 2 independents in the Senate for 12 years (and at least one for 18).

I have often wondered why those two independents don't just start their own caucus. Do the Senate rules contain a provision explicitly stating that you must have x number of members before you found a new caucus?

Because one is a centrist and the other is the most far left guy in the Senate.

Well, yeah, but wouldn't it make a statement about "bipartisanship" and "independent thinking" and all that?

Bernie Sanders isn't an independent because he beleives in bipartisanship. He is an indy because he thinks the Dem are GOP lite. Lieberman is an indy because he was GOP lite and the base got tired of that. Plus they would probably disagree on foreign policy, quite a lot.