[Badray]

"OK, what do you suggest we do? In Maine, for instance, should we insist that Olympia Snowe run as a Democrat, or refuse to vote for her?"

That's a start. In the primary anyway. That's what we are doing here in PA with Arlen Specter. We have a challenger (Cong. Pat Toomey) in the spring that is viable. Arlen has money, but I truly believe that he lacks deep grass roots support that he will need to win. I believe the key is to run as an unabashed conservative and then be one when you get into office. There must be a clear distinction to get people to the polls and all too often, there just isn't that much of a difference that will stir people to vote.

[My2Cents]

The key is "viable" candidate. I say pull out the stops for Toomey. But in a state where there isn't much of a viable choice, the only alternative is to vote for whomever the Republicans nominate, because the stakes in the world are too high to allow the Democrat Party back into power.