Posted on 10/22/2014 6:26:16 PM PDT by Din Maker
Currently, Sens. Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont are the lone Independent members of the Senate, but their caucus could double in size with victories by Independent candidates Larry Pressler in South Dakota or Greg Orman in Kansas.
Pressler, a former Republican senator, is trailing in the three-way race behind Republican Mike Rounds and Democrat Rick Weiland and is seen as having little chance of winning. However, one recent SurveyUSA poll shows him within three points of Rounds.
In Kansas, Orman is in a statistical dead heat with Republican incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts, according to recent polls. Orman says he would caucus with whichever party was in control.
King recently indicated his allegiance could change depending on the outcome of the midterm elections. "I'm not going to answer that question," King said in response to a question about which party with whom he would side, according to CNN. He added: "My first priority is to try to make the Senate work better and to the extent that as an Independent I can help to do that, that's my goal."
If either, or both, candidates win, it would certainly change how the Senate is governed. A simple shift in control can have real consequences, as was the case in 2001 following the defection by Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords from the Republican Party to the Democrats.
What might have greater influence on whether gridlock is broken are polls indicating the American public are exasperated at the legislative logjam on Capitol Hill.
A recent Wall Street Journal poll found voters favored candidates who would compromise over those who would stand on principle by a 50 percent to 42 percent margin.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
“Independent” candidates are nothing but commie lib DemocRATS who are too embarrassed and too dishonest to admit it.
Democrats playing as INDEPENDENTS: WHY is it only THEIR side that tries tricks like this?
For Sanders at least the Independent moniker is a transparent Fig Leaf.
The only independence that Sanders practices is that he much farther Left than the average Democrat.
Well at least he used to be. The average has moved a lot further Left since the election of the One.
WHY is it only THEIR side that tries tricks like this?
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Because it works and the Pubbies let them keep getting away with it. Why doesn’t the brilliant, Karl Rove, recruit some “Green” candidates.... “Socialist” candidates....”Labor” candidates or just a plain old Republican playing like their an Independent? He’s too lazy to get off his fat a** probably. Besides, he could spend that time dissing Conservatives.
Think Rounds will still pull it out? He really needs to
If that were true, Republicans would already control the Senate, since Democrats NEVER compromise. And not coincidentally, they ALWAYS get their way.
Independent in name only - don’t they vote in lock step with the democrats??
I’ve felt for weeks that Rounds was gonna blow it. Former Governor polling in the 30s? Nah. Now this latest scandal.... he’s toast. What a shame. This should have been a given for the GOP. But, the Establishment got their hand picked candidate so..... it is what it is.
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