As of now everybody has heard the shocking news last night of Maine's senior senator Olympia Snowe announcing her retirement instead of seaking re-election. Also to mention on her way out she had some scathing words for the GOP leadership, in hence acknowledging there's is no room for folks like her in the Republican Party. Don't be surprise if the other senator from Maine, Susan Collins follows Snowe's path and retires in '14.
With that being said I want to state my 5 reasons on why Chelllie Pingree should be the next senator from Maine, in what will be a sure pick-up for Democrats negating any chance for Republican controled senate giving Democrats more than 50 percent to hold the senate.
5. Grassroots Backing: Pingree entry in the race will automatically have the backing of numerous liberal and progressive grassroots group. She'll get the backing of PCCC who are trying to draft her, Emily's List, Act Blue etc. Mike Michaud entry in the race makes the Democratic establishment null in supporting a candidate, until the primary is over. That's why her getting backing from grassroots organization makes her a favorite.
4. Age: Chellie Pingree is about to be 57 in April, and in senate years that's considered being a young'n. So she'll be there for quite a while.
3. Gender: She's a woman, and I can't tell you how extremely important it is for more women to be elected to congress. Especially with the recent GOP legislative attacks on women's rights. 2012 is shaping up to be a very big year for women candidates. With canidates like Hirono in Hawaii, Berkley in Nevada, Baldwin in Wisconsin, Bysiewicz in Connecticut, Warren in Massachusetts and Heitkamp in North Dakota. It's highly likely 5 out of those 6 women could be the first female senators from their states. Not to forget the 5 current female incumbents that are running for re-election Gillibrand, Feinstein, Klobuchar, McCaskill and Stabenow. In '14 and '16 it's going to be even brighter for women with nearly certain retirements and great challengers. We have Gretchen Witmer in Michigan, Barbara Buono in New Jersey, Allyson Schwartz in Pennsylvania, Janet Cowell in North Carolina and Lisa Madigan in Illinois. Along with the handful sunshine gems in Florida with Debbie Schultz, Kathy Castor, Pam Iorio, Alex Sink and potential rising star Jessica Ehrlich. There's so many I could name, but I wanted for you to know how important it is for females to be running for congress and statewide office.
2. Progressive: Imagine her with Elizabeth Warren in the United States Senate. Two well known fighters for the middle-class it will be very great.
1. She's the best canidate: She's the best person to succeed Olympia Snowe, we can do so so so much better than Mike Michaud. He's is anti-choice and he is a blue dog. A blue dog in the mold of Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman. Even though he's anti-choice, you have Bob Casey who is also anti-choice but he's supports contraception, and he votes great on every issue, and you have Blue Dogs In Name Only folks the Pennsylvania Pat Murphy and former Arizona Rep. Gab Giffords. So there are Dems that on some issues they differ on, but are overall great members of the party. Michaud is the worst choice, and I believe the Democratic voters in Maine will rebuke him in the primary.