Challenging Snowe

The subscription-only Roll Call has an article examining possible Democratic candidates to take on Senator Snowe (R-Torture) in 2006. Unlike Snowe's last challenger, whose name Diamon reminds us can be rearranged to spell "Lance W. Remark", 2006 might offer some competition.

Two prominent Democrats, including one House Member, are eyeing the 2006 Maine Senate race — though the Congressman considering a run is not the one early rumors mentioned as a potential challenger to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) next year.

While Rep. Mike Michaud (D) does not plan to challenge the senior Senator from the Pine Tree State, Rep. Tom Allen (D) has not ruled out a bid, according to sources.

A spokesman for Allen dismissed the talk as premature but would not take his boss out of the running.

“It’s still way too early to start speculating about 2006,” said Allen spokesman Mark Sullivan, adding that Allen is “focused on the 109th Congress.”

The other Democrat most often mentioned at this early stage is Maine Attorney General G. Steven Rowe.

“I’ve been asked to consider running for higher office by a number of people; as of today I have not ruled anything out,” was all Rowe would say about his future political plans.

A Democratic operative, who did not want to be named, confirmed that Allen and Rowe are considering taking on what is certain to be an uphill battle.

“Both are seeing what the temperature is like out there,” the operative said.

Both would be preferable in the minds of party leaders to the only Democrat who has previously expressed an interest in the race. [...]

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