Olympia Snowe

One of the Senate’s last moderate Republicans announces she won’t seek reelection. Colin Woodard on what’s driving Olympia Snowe out. Plus, the latest news on hot races around the country.

Just 100 days into Gov. Paul LePage’s Tea Party-fueled administration, his fellow Republicans are fighting back, defeating his push to bring back toxic baby bottles. Now Maine faces a choice between the Republicanism of moderate Olympia Snowe or the more bellicose LePage, reports Colin Woodard.

The world’s top pop star marshaled her followers today at a Maine rally against “Don’t Ask, Don’t tell.” But her unconventional approach—likening gay rights to prime ribs and a “meat dress”—will have to persuade the state’s Republican senators to break from their party.

The rush to pass financial reform might cure some of the ills that plagued health care. But even the elites don’t understand this stuff. Matthew Yglesias on the ups and downs of moving too fast.

The latest polls show Olympia Snowe’s health-care vote hurts her with Republicans in Maine. The right is stepping up pressure. But the GOP’s last moderate is a tough target.

After her surprise vote in favor of Obamacare yesterday, Republican Senator Olympia Snowe explains her decision to Wolf Blitzer: “If we don’t address it now,” she says, “frankly, we’re deferring it for generations."