WASHINGTON (CNN) - Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe has shown throughout her career that when it comes to voting, it's her principles and constituents that guide her, not her party.
Those principles, analysts note, are guiding her to find a compromise on health care reform currently stalemated in Congress.
Jennifer Duffy, who follows the Senate for the Cook Political Report, said Snowe's independent streak is "not new behavior for her."
"I think they [Republicans] also realize that the only reason that the state of Maine has two Republican senators at all is the fact that they are very independent-minded and they vote their state," she said, referring to Snowe and Sen. Susan Collins.
In fact, some estimates place Snowe as having voted with her party only 57 percent of the time in the current Congress.
While her moderate views are at odds with GOP opposition to several of President Obama's economic plans this year, the senator's constituents seem to agree with her.
In 2006, she won re-election with 74 percent of the vote, compared to her Democratic opponent's 21 percent. In 2000, Snowe received 69 percent of the vote.
Follow Ed Hornick on Twitter @HornickCNN
From CNN Politics
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She is exactly what we need in Washington. We need to vote on our principals not be a puppet for any party. Cantor and Boehner should definitely take lessons from her and Susan Collins.
Senator Snowe gets my vote for Senator of the Year. She seems to be one of a few Republicans who look past talking points and is willing to get her hands dirty to get things done. A non-Obstructionist Republican who has risen above what her Party stands for, Senator Snowe shows that not every person on the right is a crazy lunatic.
Snowe is a castoff no one case about. I am glad Obama could find someone he was willing to extend bipartisanship to like Snowe. What a surprise.
Thank God there is ONE Republican who can speak her own truth, be authentic and use common sense and intelligence! Senator Olympia Snowe - YOU GO GIRL!!!!
Get a back bone instead of being hoodwinked by Obama's charm.
A rare Republican who has all her bodily parts... a brain and a backbone!
As a Republican that has all be given up, she gives me hope!
Olympia Smowe has always and will always vote the way she thinks will earn her the highest rateing with party in power. She could not care less what her constituants wantor need. It's all about Olympia Snowe And, the people of Maine are not compitent to know what is in their best interest.
One "in the land of the free and the home of the brave". My hats off to you Senator. If your party abandons you, we in the Democratic party will take you.
And this is how a senator or congressman or ANY politician should be ... they should vote the way their constiuents want regardless of their own personal party affiliations.
We appreciate Sen. Olympia Snowe
This is s good politician...do what your constiteunts voted you to do.