The election to replace U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe offers some clear contrasts, both in experience and views on the role of government.

Former Gov. Angus King, running as an independent, and state Sen. Cynthia Dill, the Democrat from Cape Elizabeth, agree more than they disagree, particularly on social issues, where both lean left of center. Dill and King both support a woman’s right to an abortion and they both support marriage equality.

Dill and King both support the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, but say it needs improvement. They both support public schools in favor of voucher programs, although Dill is stronger in her support. They agree on ending the war in Afghanistan. They agree on climate change, and their energy policies are both heavy on renewable and U.S.-based resources.

They do differ on some matters of policy, but those are for the most part slight. For instance, Dill favors repeal of the Bush tax cuts, while King wouldn’t make adjustments until he feels the economy is improving.

Dill argues that where they differ is how they would govern. While they are both campaigning as outsiders who can shake up Washington, Dill says she is more in touch with regular Mainers than the millionaire King.

The former governor certainly comes with baggage – he left the state in a huge financial hole, for one, though that was due in part to nationwide economic issues that hit around the time he left office. In too many ways, he seems open to the interests of Wall Street, and his claim that he will right the ship in D.C. by owning the middle in the fight of right versus left is unrealistic.

But King’s party status would at least give the appearance of independence, and force others to deal with him, allowing Maine the kind of voice in Washington that would best approximate what the state received from Snowe. That kind of attention is particularly important for our small state, and it is questionable whether Dill, who has served as a town councilor, state representative and state senator in rapid succession, has the experience and temperament to gain that sort of clout.

Republican Charlie Summers, for his part, is campaigning as a veteran, small business owner and one-time single parent who knows the struggles of making ends meet.

However, his policies are boiler-plate Republican. He sees no role for government in the economic recovery and would cut federal spending to 2008 levels, while advocating for increased military spending. He would not support tax increases of any kind, even on the wealthiest Americans, though there is no other realistic way to cut the deficit than to pair tax increases with spending cuts. He is dismissive of climate change science and supports domestic drilling and coal and nuclear power, with little to say about energy efficiency. He is against gay marriage, and his position on abortion is muddled at best.

Summers, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, has spoken eloquently on the need for more services for veterans returning from war. But he hasn’t said how it would be paid for, and he hasn’t advocated for pulling troops out of Afghanistan.

Those policies differ greatly from King’s positions, which show that the former governor better understands how to move the country forward. Add in his experience governing, and King is the most suitable candidate to follow Snowe in the U.S. Senate.

Ben Bradgon, managing editor

Copy the Story Link