Vermont Democrat Enters Gubernatorial Race; Pollina Reacts
May 15th, 2008This Vermont Public Radio interview with Anthony Pollina centers on Pollina’s reaction to the news that Gaye Symington, speaker of the Vermont House, will be the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. Pollina, chair of the Progressive Party, had been hoping that Democrats would abstain from the race and support him.
May 16th, 2008 at 8:31 am
The Democrats are always polite to minor parties, until they are ready to cut their throats.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Anthony Pollina is by far a much stronger candidate and enjoys greater name recognition than Gaye Symington. So don’t be surprised when Pollina beats Symington in November. Unfortunately Symington’s candidacy will hand Jim Douglas an easy re-election. It awfully hypocritical to see Symington a man known to throw around the “spoiler” claim against Progressives and other third party candidates seeking to be one himself.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Mike Indiana: right on, right on, such a simpleton!
May 16th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
The Democrats need to stop whining about Pollina. They could pass IRV if they want to. They have a veto-proof majority in the State Senate. In the House, the Democrats plus the Progressives and one of the independents would be a two-thirds majority.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Under Vermont’s Constitution, if no candidate wins a majority, then the legislature picks the governor. If an incumbent governor gets less than 50% against two other candidates — meaning a majority of Vermont voters have rejected their incumbent in favor of two candidates on the center-left — then Vermont’s framers would suggest there’s a good reason for the legislature to elect someone else. In that case, there’s a good argument that the legislature should pick Pollina or Symington based on whichever one finishes second.