Why don't Republicans make more of a play for Maine?

[smoltchanov]

If the temperament and statesmanship of these ladies were more widely reflected in our party across the country, I suspect this thread would be titled "Why don't Democrats make more of a play for Maine".

If the temperament and statesmanship of these ladies were more widely reflected in the party across the country, I would vote Republican.

But at last, these qualities does not reflect the party and I do not vote Republican.

That's what all Democrats say, but it's BS.  At the end of the day, almost every Republican is too fiscally conservative/pro-business for any real Dem to actually vote for them (regardless of how moderate they are on other stuff).

For hyper-partisan Democrat - yes. He looks only on letter after candidate's name. But a lot of Democrats in Maine are not hyper-partisan. Even less so - Indies, but they are not too conservative either. When Republican party in Maine gave people such candidates in the past as Tupper, Cohen, McKernan, and, yes, Snowe and Collins - they usually won. When they offer LePage and Poliquin (or Scontras, or - lot of others) - another matter. Some reasonable fiscal conservatism is not a taboo in Maine, social conservatism - usually is.

[smoltchanov]

LePage won in 2010.  Of course, that was with a strong third party candidate...

You said it himself. He would never win without split among center-left.

[smoltchanov]

No, I agree on Maine - I was talking about your generic Dem across the country.  I'd consider myself a social liberal, really, and I definitely agree with the OP still.  Maine could be won with the right Republican.

By right Republican - yes. But - on Senate, House or Governor  level only, because the type of Republican which (conceivably) could win it on Presidential level is absolutely unelectable during country-wide process.. By "right-wing Republican" (especially - on social issues) - no. LePage is the only exception i remember, and he was extremely lucky in 2010 (he would, probably, lose if election would be held a week later, because Democrats began to leave their candidate "en masse" in favor of Cutler)....

[smoltchanov]

[Really?  I thought New England was notorious for its fiscal conservatism and independent streak.

Yes, but even that fiscal conservatism wasn't very stringent - more of moderate pragmatic variety. I already mentioned names of former Congressman Stanley Tupper (who openly called himself a "liberal Republican" in his interviews) and Congressman and Senator William Cohen. How many such republicans (essentially - moderate on economy, liberal on social and enviromental issues, and so on) hold office NOW in Maine?

[smoltchanov]

I'd rather have most Democrats over a degenerate piece of waste such as Nelson Rockefeller.

Well, you are a fool. That happens.

[smoltchanov]

It's unlikely that the GOP will nominate a presidential candidate moderate enough to win Maine in the near future.

What if that candidate campaigns on economic issues and downplays the social issues?

You are aware that a significant section of Maine's voting base is closely tied to unions, right? Particularly in ME-2, which has a lot of old industrial towns like Lewiston/Auburn. Emphasizing economic issues is a recipe for disaster in Maine too.

In short - "proper Republican" in Maine must be at least economic moderate and social liberal. But in such case most likely he is a Democrat...

[smoltchanov]

I'd rather have most Democrats over a degenerate piece of waste such as Nelson Rockefeller.

Well, you are a fool. That happens.

And how did you make this discovery?

Only fools make such sweeping general statements. They (statements) are always false..