Political Notebook

Maine: Republicans in Maine—indeed nationwide—rejoiced at the news of Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell’s surprise decision not to seek re-election. The glee is two-pronged: 1) Bill Clinton is now hampered by lame-duck leadership at a time when he most needs strength in the Senate; and 2) the Republican Party has a very good chance at winning a seat that until a few weeks ago was written off even by those who were lining up to challenge Mitchell.

Representative Olympia Snowe is what Democrats like to call a “maverick”—a Republican who votes like a Democrat. She and her husband— the state’s somewhat conservative governor, John McKernan—-are Maine’s ultimate power couple. They met when the two of them made up the state’s entire House delegation, before he moved home. Now Miss Snowe has used her power, built over 16 years in office, to clear the field for the Senate primary. The other contenders have shifted to the race for her House seat.

GM

About the Author

Geoffrey Morris

Maine: Republicans in Maine—indeed nationwide—rejoiced at the news of Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell’s surprise decision not to seek re-election. The glee is two-pronged: 1) Bill Clinton is now hampered by lame-duck leadership at a time when he most needs strength in the Senate; and 2) the Republican Party has a very good chance at winning a seat that until a few weeks ago was written off even by those who were lining up to challenge Mitchell.

Representative Olympia Snowe is what Democrats like to call a “maverick”—a Republican who votes like a Democrat. She and her husband— the state’s somewhat conservative governor, John McKernan—-are Maine’s ultimate power couple. They met when the two of them made up the state’s entire House delegation, before he moved home. Now Miss Snowe has used her power, built over 16 years in office, to clear the field for the Senate primary. The other contenders have shifted to the race for her House seat.