Maine elects an independent King
(CNN) - Maine elected former Gov. Angus King to the Senate Tuesday, CNN projected.
King, an independent, steadfastly has refused to say if he will organize with Democrats or Republicans when he gets to Washington, meaning if the Senate is narrowly divided after Tuesday's election, he could determine which party gets majority control.
- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
The former two-term governor defeated Republican Charlie Summers and Democrat Cynthia Dill.
King will replace Sen. Olympia Snowe, herself an independent-minded Republican who stunned her colleagues this year when she announced she would retire from the Senate, which she complained has become increasingly partisan. Her decision immediately put in doubt the ability of Republicans to take control of the chamber, something they previously thought was likely.
Democrats are convinced King will side with them. As evidence they point to King's support for President Obama and many of his policies. In a sign of that confidence, national Democrats ignored the Democratic candidate Dill and spent heavily against Summers in order to help King.
Republicans also believe that King will caucus with Democrats so they spent millions to defeat him.
But an aide told CNN last week that King still has not made up his mind and won't until he gets to Washington, D.C. to see the state of play.
King's decision could be paramount because a party will need to have 51 votes for outright control of the chamber. If the Senate ends up at a 50-49 advantage for either party, King could tip the balance to 51 or could make it a 50-50 split allowing either the Republican or Democratic Vice President to break tie votes.
From CNN Politics
- Saudi Arabia releases dual US-Saudi citizen from prison after he posted critical tweets about the kingdom
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Untitled
- New York, DC wait for Manhattan DA's next move in hush money probe
- Attacks on Manhattan investigation show GOP still can't break from Trump
- House GOP uses its new power in extraordinary effort to shield Trump from indictment
The senior citizens in Maine were more interested in keeping the government running in the correct direction. We were not so foolish as to believe that everything had to go our way. Unlike those in Florida and other states who could not see that all people must do well or no people will succeed. Our children and our children's children must do well, too. If you do not have children think about all the young people we will need to help us to keep those entitlements or those programs we have earned going.
The out of state Republicans brought a dirty campaign to Maine. When all is said and done the American people need to let Karl Rove and others know that we did not like what they did, we did not approve of their ads and they need to stay out of our states. Too bad the Republicans in Maine did not do that. Charlie Summers moved so far right that he left his values behind. In the end his new found friends could not deliver.
Really? Predicted it this early? I would hope that King does the responsible thing. He needs to look towards the future and do what is needed - cut some spending and raise taxes. Not looking at the whole picture does the country a disservice.
Welcome – now use your vote for ALL Americans, not just Adelson