# Olympia Snowe retiring **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 28, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292 "2012-02-28T22:52:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/61 "2012-03-06T14:41:59Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Hmm, I would think it would help the GOP more if he _runs_ as a Republican. If he doesn’t, I would think it would help the Democrats because they will come out in droves to vote against the inevitable teahadist who would win the GOP nomination, possibly making the difference in the vote for Maine’s general election delegates for Obama. Not if the droves are split between a Democrat and an Independent. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/62 "2012-03-06T14:44:07Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > she put out a statement after King announced going on about the importance of winning back the \*\*house \*\*… I meant the Senate. You get the picture. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/63 "2012-03-06T14:51:51Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I meant the Senate. You get the picture. You sure you didn’t get it right the first time? “Winning back the Senate” doesn’t make much sense since the Dems already have it. She might be more inclined to hold her House seat to help with that effort, particularly if King looks strong (both politically and on the issues). Worst case would be for Pingree to run, split with King, a TP candidate get the Senate seat _and_ for the Dems to lose Pingree’s House seat. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/64 "2012-03-06T15:15:46Z")
I know what I meant. I just don’t know what I’m saying half the time. I guess I muddled Pingree’s statement, but she did say something about controlling the Sentate - I just put my defeatest attidue all over it. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/65 "2012-03-06T15:17:50Z")
Here’s Pingree’s statement, for the record: > [@](#): > > “This is an extremely important election and a lot is at stake, including the control of the U.S. Senate. While I have been humbled by the tremendous outpouring of support encouraging me to run, I’m going to continue thinking very carefully about whether or not I should enter this race and will take all the factors into consideration before deciding how I can best serve the people of Maine.” ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/66 "2012-03-06T15:43:59Z")
Got it, thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/67 "2012-03-07T00:30:52Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > “Winning back the Senate” doesn’t make much sense since the Dems already have it. It makes complete sense if you take it to mean “winning back _control of_ the Senate”. Note who actually controls it now, via filibuster abuse. Not that the Dems are going to get to a real 60 members this time. > [@](#): > > She might be more inclined to hold her House seat to help with that effort, particularly if King looks strong (both politically and on the issues). I don’t know that the Reps really have a chance in that district (I work in it) anyway. Worst case is Tom Allen gets it back, right? > [@](#): > > Worst case would be for Pingree to run, split with King, a TP candidate get the Senate seat _and_ for the Dems to lose Pingree’s House seat. I’d bet on Pingree staying out if King says he’d join the Dem caucus. He’d be a pretty progressive activist in the Senate even if he won’t sign the card. All this is being negotiated for us behind the scenes, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/68 "2012-03-07T17:24:49Z")
Pingree is announcing that he won’t run. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292/69 "2012-03-07T17:37:22Z")
Interesting. Looks Angus can relax. Maybe get out the house some afternoon a shake few hands. Possibly call into WBLM’s morning show or something, and he’s a shoe-in. Pingree is a she, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olympia-snowe-retiring/614292.md?page=3)