On June 18, incumbent Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, a Republican, began his re-election campaign. Press coverage in Vermont refers to Douglas has having “two major party opponents”, and the press is giving equal coverage to Gaye Symington (likely Democratic nominee for Governor) and Anthony Pollina (Progressive nominee for Governor). For example, see this story.
Go Pollina!
Irrespective of ideological stripe, all opponents of rigged duopoly should celebrate and applaud the
standing of Pollina and his Progressives in this
governor’s race–and the deference being shown by media, at least in Burlington, for a major third party.
They were given an alternative strategy as far back as 2006. Run Pollina as Lt. Governor.
A win there would place him next in line as governor [via sucession]. He had received as much as one quarter of the votes for Lt. Government in another year.
With the donkey crats acting as spoilers in 2008 it looks like manna from heaven for unpopular incumbent Douglas.
Pollina, we [Citizens For A Better Veterans Home] told you so…..
The Democrats might have avoided this dilemma if they mustered enough votes to override Douglas’s veto of Instant Runoff Voting. You reap what you sow . . .
Yes, but the IRV bill only applied to congressional elections, not gubernatorial elections or other elections for state office.
Vermont is much closer than any other state to having a multi-party political system. I’m not clear on the reasons for this. I suppose they include the independent streak that’s traditionally associated with New England, but I would look for objective factors as well. Is the Progressive Party’s support concentrated in the cities or in a particular region? And what is the size of the legislature relative to the population?
I just found this table of state legislatures. Vermont ranks 48th with respect to constituents per seat in the lower house and 47th with respect to constituents per seat in the upper house.