An Open Seat in Vermont... Could be a tough race.

[AuH2O]

Here's my question: how is it determined, and who determines, whether or not there is a Democratic primary at all?

And if there isn't, what is Vermont's process for getting on the ballot?

This is another race, by the way, on what amounts to Democrat turf. Douglas is competitive, without question, and is rather moderate but nonetheless a Republican. Sanders, in reality, is leftist even by Vermont standards, primarily on economic issues.

What this amounts to is at least another headache for the Dems, who now are trusting that an independent Socialist can win a seat to limit further damage to the Senate Democrats.

[AuH2O]

Um no. Weld was running against an incumbent; this is an open seat in a less machine-oriented state.

Sanders is leftist but he quite simply is not a Democrat. Whether that winds up mattering is unclear, but certainly whatever organizational benefits come with being part of the DNC will not be there for him.

There actually is question who is more popular heads-up. Clavelle wasn't THAT bad and he was running a serious campaign; Sanders did not face real opposition. Also note that a Democrat in his House race fetched 7%, so I would expect anywhere from 5-8% to be ciphered in the Senate race.

If I had to bet even odds, I would take Douglas. If anyone is overrated here it's Sanders.

[AuH2O]

I think moderate Vermont voters are going to think twice about sending Sanders to the Senate. Even in states with more Senators than Reps I think voters are cognizant of the different demands of the respective bodies (Vermont having a very educated voter pool).

With Douglas, they get a Senator who would be in the majority and quite possibly get good committee assignments and plenty of pork for Vermont. In Sanders, they get an independent who has to be protected by a minority party-- which is unlikely to place his needs above their own members.

That is why Douglas can win (and why Chafee is still a Republican and why he's going to win in RI). Sanders is not Senate material and Douglas is, plain and simple... leftists are in la-la land with this one.

[AuH2O]

Keep in mind, most Vermonters aren't expatriot athiest pedophiles. So your perspective is not relevant to this Senate race.