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Her exit could boost Democrats who are facing tough odds this election cycle. Senate Democrats hold a 51-47 majority with two independents who caucus with them. Already there were four Democrats running for Snowe's seat, but the vacancy changes everything. Maine Democratic officials were speaking privately with the state's two Democratic members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree. Michaud issued a statement saying he was "seriously considering" a run. Candidates have only until March 15 to collect the 2,000 signatures necessary to qualify for the November ballot. Snowe was facing her first primary fight after cruising to a third term in 2006 with 74 percent of the vote. She was viewed by some as vulnerable because of her moderate position at a time when the tea party was gaining influence in Maine. But she remained popular with both Republicans and Democrats. Maisel described her as virtually unbeatable. Snowe is married to former Maine Gov. John McKernan. She was widowed at 26 when her first husband, state Rep. Peter Snowe, died in a car crash. She won a 1973 election to fill his vacant seat. Five years later, she was elected to the U.S. House where she served for 16 years before winning her Senate seat. She said she was confident she would have won re-election, but saw a "vital need for the political center in order for our democracy to flourish and to find solutions that unite rather than divide us." She said she sees opportunities to build support for that change from outside the Senate, though she did not elaborate. "To this day, I remain deeply passionate about public service, and I cherish the opportunity I have been given for nearly four decades to help improve the lives of my fellow Mainers," she said. Last week, one of her GOP challengers dropped out of the primary race, choosing to run as an independent, leaving Scott D'Amboise as the only other GOP candidate in the race unless other Republicans decide to toss their hats into the ring. Snowe's decision makes her the third U.S. senator from Maine in the past two decades to voluntarily relinquish a seat to which they could have won re-election. Democratic Sen. George Mitchell chose not to run in 1994 and Republican Sen. William Cohen did likewise in 1996. Mitchell, who praised Snowe's public service and friendship, joked that he was once advised not to overstay his welcome. "A guy from Maine told me this: It's better to leave when we want you to stay, rather than after we want you go to," he said.
[Associated
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