Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, announced this afternoon that she has decided not to run for re-election after 33 years in Congress.This can only be good for Democrats. I imagine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is taking a look at this opening. I hope she is.
In a statement issued by her campaign, Snowe said that both she and her husband, former Gov. John R. McKernan, are in good health and she is certain she would have won re-election.
Snowe, however, cited frustation over "an atmosphere of polarization and ‘my way or the highway’ ideologies has become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions."
As a Mainer, I've followed Snowe's career for years. I never got the fascination people had with her. She's had a long career in public service -- and has had taxpayer funded benefits for all those years, too. When she and her new husband, then-Governor, John McKernan, got married back in 1989, they used her campaign funds to pay for the wedding reception. Just one of the perks of being an elected official.
And, an update. Let's not forget this: Company run by ex-GOP Gov. of ME (husband of Olympia Snowe), facing lawsuit backed by DOJ
Another update @ 6:04 PM, via twitter from Amanda Terkel:
Chellie Pingree calls upcoming election "critical." Says in coming days, she'll "consider how I can best serve the people of Maine."
