Democrats in Maine may be hoping for a loss in the race for the Senate this November.
Angus King, the former governor of the state, is running as an independent in a three-way Senate race that is tightening up as the election approaches. He has hinted that if he wins, he would caucus with the Democrats, which might be the deciding vote giving the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
The Democratic candidate, Cynthia Dill, is running a distant third place in the race to fill Olympia Snowe's Senate seat in this notoriously independent state.
Republican Charlie Summers trails King by eight points in the latest poll, a gap that has shrunk from 20 points.
Democrats worry that Dill will funnel votes from King, leading to a win by Summers. In an odd turn of events, the Democratic National Committee has not endorsed Dill, in the hopes that her share of the electorate will gravitate toward King.
"We have not endorsed in that race," said Patty Murray, chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, speaking to CBS News.
For their part, Republicans have been surreptitiously providing support to the Dill campaign in an effort to undermine King.
King supports abortion rights and President Obama's Affordable Care Act, both popular positions in Maine.
Outside money has been flowing into the campaign. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is involved in a half million dollar ad campaign in support of King, while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which almost always supports Republicans, has spent $839,000 on his opponent Summers.
Lost in the shuffle is Dill. The argument for her candidacy that most resonates with Maine voters is that she is a woman. Maine is currently the only state with two female senators.
Olympia Snowe is stepping down, and it seems likely that her replacement will be a man, though Dill is doing everything she can to maintain her state's special status.
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