Andrew Ian Dodge Challenging Olympia Snowe In 2012

PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots says he will run against U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe in the 2012 Republican primary.

Andrew Ian Dodge of Harpswell announced Friday that he's challenging Snowe for the seat she has held since 1995. Calling Snowe a "rubber stamp for Obama," Dodge says she's vulnerable in the primary because of her moderate political positions.

He made his formal announcement at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

Snowe's chief of staff, John Richter, said he was surprised that Dodge didn't make his announcement in the state whose people he wants to represent. He also said Snowe has never taken a race for granted, "and 2012 is no exception."

Former Republican congressional candidate Scott D'Amboise of Lisbon Falls previously announced he intends to challenge Snowe, as well.

Comments

[chaya]

11:30 AM on 02/14/2011

Keep it up, rightwingers. Keep kicking out the mature, experienced, "moderate" Republican politicians and replacing them with young, idealistic, inexperienced Tea Partiers with social agendas way off the right edge of the spectrum.

Because that is exactly how all your little rightwinger dreams are going to come to an end. The whole structure of hate and fear is going to come crashing down on your heads. Once and for all.

[William Miles Floyd]

09:07 AM on 02/14/2011

I'm hoping for a crazy Tea Party candidate and get a Democrat in her seat.

[Larkinvos]

01:20 PM on 02/14/2011

Could we somehow get Sharron Angle to move to Maine?

[hagagaga]

08:09 AM on 02/14/2011

Where does HP get its wonderfully whimsical headlines?

[elbeas]

09:25 PM on 02/13/2011

Senator Snowe tries to cast herself as an independent. I have a spine; she threatens the Republican leadership; and if you push me too far, I might just maybe someday use it. This is John McCain in a dress.

[Giveadamn]

08:55 PM on 02/13/2011

Mr. Dodge will be going it alone against Sen.Olympia Snowe, without the support of newly elected Maine Tea Party Gov. Paul LePage, since he's endorsing Sen.Snowe. Olympia's father giving Le Page his start in business might have had something to do with it, However, LePage put aside his politics for his loyalty, and friendship to Snowe, and her family. Maybe we oughtta take note that the best way to get someone to compromise with your views, is to make friends first, or as my mom says on occasion, "You can catch more flies with honey, than you can with vinegar!"

[hopeisalive]

07:56 PM on 02/13/2011

Ms Stowe has not "benn a rubber stamp for Obama." She has made her positions clear and has voted on them based on her convictions. I would say to Mr. Dodge, "if you are going to criticize, make it truthful instead of just throwing mud and untruths."

[taddles]

11:19 AM on 02/14/2011

But that' how baggers operate, they attack with false assertions and made up rhetoric.

[carollt]

07:01 PM on 02/13/2011

In a crowded field, Senator Snowe will win the primary. She always wins the general and 2012 will be no exception. Mainers like Senator Snowe. I live in Maine and I like Senator Snowe. She is a moderate, albeit a right of center one.

If the R's oust her in a primary, the D will win in the general.

[Matthew Peters]

07:33 PM on 02/13/2011

This is true but it won't stop them from hold a primary and taking her out. Look at the Tea party people that lost as a result in 2010.

[taddles]

11:20 AM on 02/14/2011

Don't forget Delaware.

[bobbythompson3333]

03:09 PM on 02/13/2011

she needs to go, don't let the door hit you on the butt on your way out babe.

[Dave Jones]

01:54 PM on 02/13/2011

Agreed, let the right run a wingnut against a Dem in the general. Dems will welcome the seat.

[jwoww]

06:15 PM on 02/13/2011

like they dont hold it already??

[Matthew Peters]

07:35 PM on 02/13/2011

No they don't... She voted a stood with Republicans with most major bills.

[banja]

01:30 PM on 02/13/2011

Snowe is such a phony, i won't cry for her loss, she was for the healthcare law before she was against it ??????

[H321]

12:12 PM on 02/13/2011

Good. Let her lose. She's spent the last two years leading the administration on and doing her own thing. Either walk the part line or be your own politician for your state, don't waffle.

[CarlIII]

11:52 AM on 02/13/2011

Let her lose. Let the ultra right wing complete their take over of the GOP. Then My Party will welcome the moderates into our party. That will make us stronger. Also i am so sick of Reid and the White House bending over backwards to get her vote. I will be glad to see her go.

[Slim Dude]

11:13 AM on 02/13/2011

Snowe should run as an Independent, should she lose in the republican primary. She could beat any tea party candidate in the general election.

[CarlIII]

11:54 AM on 02/13/2011

If she had any amount of integrity she would have become a Democrat years ago. I don't trust her or any Republican.

[harborite]

12:40 PM on 02/13/2011

I agree as an Independent voter in Maine who has and will vote for her either way

[stape45]

10:50 AM on 02/13/2011

Yeah. They don’t want “moderates” - they want radical (so-called-) “conservatives”. Oxymoron is the name of the game, with them.

[seventeengeese]

10:41 AM on 02/13/2011

Nope, I predict they will not unseat Olympia. She's revered in Maine and she will not be 36%'d (the amount of the vote the new teathuglican governor received) out of office.

I would love to see a progressive democrat unseat her but I beleive the President will be spending the four years after the elections trying to get a vote out of her the same way he will have spent his first four years.