Somewhat more important than the primary to day, IMO. Snowe was one of the last Republican "moderates," mostly by virtue of their ability to be somewhat serious about their duties. I find it interesting that Snowe was apparently running for re-election until under 24 hours ago. She was facing a teahadist challenge, but it wasn't going anywhere.WASHINGTON — Citing excessive partisanship and a dispiriting political environment, Senator Olympia J. Snowe, a three-term Republican from Maine, said Tuesday that she would not run for re-election in November. Her surprise decision delivered a potential blow to Republicans who need just a handful of seats to regain control of the Senate; Ms. Snowe was considered one of their safer incumbents.
“After 33 years in the Congress this was not an easy decision,” said Ms. Snowe, 65, a moderate who served 16 years in the House before moving to the Senate. “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.”
But in sharp comments citing the lack of comity in the current Congress as a motivating factor in her sudden retirement, Ms. Snowe, who spent a career voting against her Republican colleagues almost as often as with them, said she had had enough.
“I do find it frustrating,” she said, “that an atmosphere of polarization and ‘my way or the highway’ ideologies has become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions.”
She added: “Unfortunately, I do not realistically expect the partisanship of recent years in the Senate to change over the short term. So at this stage of my tenure in public service, I have concluded that I am not prepared to commit myself to an additional six years in the Senate, which is what a fourth term would entail.”
Ms. Snowe cast key votes on bills that were dear to Democrats, including the economic stimulus measure and a law upending the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy governing gay men and lesbians in the military. She was facing a Tea Party-backed challenger, but her opponent had failed to gain much traction in a state where Ms. Snowe was popular and had the backing of the new Republican governor.
Despite her reputation for crossing the aisle, Ms. Snowe stood firm against the health care overhaul in 2009, even though she had worked closely with Democrats on the issue for years. She complained that party leaders were ramming the measure through without offering sufficient chance to consider changes, and the experience colored her relationship with top Democrats.
Democrats in Washington immediately and gleefully cast their gaze north Tuesday, where a Maine victory that seemed unthinkable just a few hours earlier suddenly seemed possible. Representative Chellie Pingree, a Democrat widely expected to jump into the race, said in a statement, “This upcoming election is critical to the future of our working families around the country, and in the coming days I will carefully consider how I can best serve the people of Maine.” The filing date for the Maine primary is March 15, leaving new contenders little time.
Republicans said they were ready for the challenge. Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement: “While I would never underestimate the fight ahead in defending any open Senate seat, Republicans remain well positioned to win back a Senate majority in November.”
Maine has a quirky independent electoral flavor; it elected Paul R. LePage, a Tea Party-supported Republican, as governor in 2010 and has had two moderate Republican senators — Ms. Snowe and Susan Collins — for the last 15 years.
Ms. Snowe stands out in a body with relatively few women, her regal attire, tied-back hair and low and purposeful locution all signature trademarks. Over the years, she tussled with members of her own party, whom she often disappointed, and Democrats, with whom she just as often, and vehemently, disagreed.
As a longtime member of the Senate Finance Committee, Ms. Snowe frequently played a critical role in shaping tax legislation. In 2001, she helped trim President George W. Bush’s initial $1.7 trillion, 10-year tax cut to $1.35 trillion.
After the 2010 elections, it appeared that Ms. Snowe could face a serious challenge from the right, but that threat had begun to fizzle. Last week, Andrew Ian Dodge, a Maine Tea Party leader, dropped out of the Republican primary contest; Scott D’Amboise, a businessman, remains in that race, but so far he has shown little fund-raising strength.
Jonathan Weisman and Robert Pear contributed reporting.
This does, however, make it slightly easier for the Dems to retain the Senate. They'll probably lose it anyway, but the Maine seat is going to be a hell of a target for them and one of their few pick up opportunities. And that means that the GOP will have to try just a little bit harder to win one of the other, less marginal, seats.
