Despite Touting “Year Of The Woman” Narrative, Democrats Give Cold Shoulder To Yet Another Female Democratic Senate Candidate In Northeast

Despite pitching press stories on female U.S. Senate candidates and publicly touting 2012 as the “Year Of The Woman,” the story on the ground continues to tell a far different story for national Democrats in yet another key state.

After pushing aside liberal Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree last week and with just four days to go for Republican and Democratic candidates to file 2,000 signatures in order to make the 2012 ballot in Maine, national Democrats show no signs of supporting any of the possible Democratic Senate candidates, including State Senator Cynthia Dill who has kept supporters apprised via Twitter of her signature-gathering efforts.   Speaking out regarding former Governor Angus King’s Independent bid, State Senator Dill told Politico last week, “It’s quite frightening to hear Gov. King may or may not caucus with Democrats.” 

Notably, the lack of engagement by national Democrats stands in marked contrast to a statement immediately following Olympia Snowe’s announcement in which they called Maine “a top pick up opportunity for Senate Democrats.”

But perhaps national Democrats in Washington know more about King’s Independent bid than Democrats in Maine, with The Hill reporting that King may well receive the national party’s support, while Politico astutely observed that former DSCC Chairman Chuck Schumer will not deny that he’s already had private conversations with Angus King.

“If national Democrats truly believe that Maine represents ‘a top pick-up opportunity’ for their party, many are rightfully asking the same question that Cynthia Dill and other Democrats are no doubt wondering with the filing deadline just days away – where’s the cavalry?” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Brian Walsh said today.  “The decision by national Democrats to give the cold shoulder to yet another announced female Senate candidate not only undermines their ‘year of the woman’ talking point, but it also makes clear their belief that they already have Angus King’s vote in Harry Reid’s pocket.”

This isn’t the first time national Democrats have put politics ahead of their own talking points. As the Hartford Courant reported in November, national Democrats are also actively working against the candidacy of female former Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, despite her endorsement by Emily’s List and other national women’s groups, in favor of U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy who they believe is a stronger general election candidate.