THERE IS EXACTLY ONE NON-PARTISAN STATE IN AMERICA:

Sarah,

One could argue that partisan politics is destroying America.  Democrats and Republicans will not compromise on anything and as a result, nothing gets done.  One state out of 50 recognizes this problem and is devoted to centrist candidates.  This state is Maine:

Background:

Maine loves independent candidates.  They’ve elected two independent governors and enthusiastically supported Ross Perot’s candidacy in both 1992 and 1996.(in 1992 more people voted for Perot than Bush)

Currently, over 1/3 of voters are not registered Democrat or Republican.

Olympia Snowe:

Recently, Olympia Snowe, Maine’s Republican senator announced she will not run for reelection.  She was one of the few remaining centrist Republicans in the Senate.  This basically means that she is a Republican but supports gay rights, gun control, and legalized abortion. (it should be noted however the she voted to block the repeal of don’t ask don’t tell)  She decided to leave the Senate because “the atmosphere of polarization” has made any type of compromise impossible.  

Enter Angus:

Alright, I admit it; my motivation for writing this article was to describe Angus King.

Angus King is hoping to replace Ms. Snowe in the United States Senate.  He was Maine’s independent governor during the 1990’s and presided over a period of strong economic growth.  After he left office, he bought a motor home to travel around America with his wife.  He has been doing this since 2003.

Now he wants back in.  He is running as an independent and stresses that he has no ties to either party.  His unofficial tagline is “none of the above” and Maine’s residents refer to him by his first name, Angus.  If you were wondering, the answer is yes- he has an awesome moustache.

His platform is simple: he wants to reform Senate procedures that allow minority parties to block legislation, build bridges between the parties, and stem the flow of money into politics.

Currently, he holds a large lead, but the flow of Super Pac money has only begun.  He will be attacked vigorously by both Democrats and Republicans. 

If he does manage to get elected, he will have a fair amount of power.  This next election may result in a Senate that is split 49 – 50 between Democrats and Republicans.  This would make Angus a crucial swing vote for both parties.

Bottom line: I really want this guy to win.