Talk Elections

Will announce soon.

Well if it weren't for his current position I would expect Dean to run, but obviously that isn't happening. Hopefully we get Senator Bernie Sanders! Otherwise, we get a Democrat anyway.

Bernie Sanders is awesome, hopefully he wins this seat.

After his recent scandal, I'm not so sure.

I can easily see Sanders going for it. He wants a bigger job and this is the first one he can grab in an open seat environment (Dean's LG. Doug Racine was given a clear path as the Dem nominee in 2002). The VT GOP is on life support. Sanders could win. The Dems should make him run as an Indy and run their own candidate-- Deb Markowitz, who has star potential.

I see no reason for the Dems to run a candidate against Sanders. He will vote with us on all issues and causus with us.

Dean and the DNC should endorse Sanders. 

But your probably thinking... What about his little scandal (http://www.benningtonbanner.com/Stories/0,1413,104~8676~2813819,0.html#)? 

Ok, he wins with 60% of the vote instead of 68%.

The Dems never run a serious candidate against him for House, they won't for Senate.

This would be a close race if Jim Douglas runs for the GOP.  I think it's a Sanders slam dunk otherwise.  The only obvious Dem candidates are Dean and Clavelle, and neither one will run.  Dean because of the DNC job, and Clavelle because he is a protege of Sanders.

This is probably a correct analysis, imo.

So technically (de jure), one Independent will replace another Independent. :)

Sanders is far from being your "type" of Independent (i.e. one that I could easily support)

Trust me, I'm quite aware how far left Sanders is. :) Neither of them is my "type" of Independent (thanks for the support BTW), but I was just remarking on how the only non-D or R Representative will replace the only non-D or R Senator...I find that amusing. :D

Who is likely to replace Sanders' house seat if he wins?

Probably a Sanders protege, I would imagine.  Though I am not familiar with the internals of Vermont politics at all, so there.

I would think Clavelle would be the early favorite for the House seat.  Of course, Douglas could choose to forego an uphill Senate race and run for House instead, in which case he would probably be the slight favorite.  (This would be a closer race than the 2004 Gov election though)

On second thought, I doubt a Douglas/Clavelle rematch will happen.  If Douglas runs for House, Clavelle will probably take another shot at Governor.   If Douglas runs for Senate, and Clavelle for Gov, I have no idea who will run for House.

CNN today suggested that Jeffords might have mental impairment-- Alzheimer's or something.

jeffords?  sanders?  what's the difference?

vermont will just be trading one socialist for another.

Sanders as Senator is a political nightmare for someone like myself but I am thrilled that Jeffords will be gone.

Douglas for Senate!

Senator Sanders... Hmm, kinda' has a nice ring to it.

not as good as Colonel Sanders.

I hope this joke of an independent is rejected...but he won't be.

If the popular Republican Governor runs, the GOP has a shot.

I'd wager he'd be another Chafee or Specter or even the second Jeffords.

The seat is Sanders'... If he wants it. 

Do you really think a state that just a couple weeks ago overwhelmingly passed a referendum urging President Bush to withdraw all U.S. Troops from Iraq is going to send a Republican to the United States Senate?

On top of that Sanders is by far the most popular poltician in the state.  His 58% approval rating is tops.  In Nov. 2004 Sanders won his Congressional race with 68% of the vote.  Sanders has never received less than 55% of the vote.

I'd rather have him than someone like Sanders or another Leahy.

Senator Sanders would be awesome.
I guess that would demote Boxer and Feingold to 2nd and 3rd most liberal.

Schumer said that the Democratic party will support Sanders.

So one socialist replaces another. Who cares?

Jim Jeffords = good ridance

Look at Tony Knowles and William Weld. Plus unlike those two he actually has something to lose, why abandon a safe governorship for a long shot Senate race? From what I've heard he isn't as popular as the above listed two anyway, he just got a weak opponent last year.