Angus King quietly tries to fend off challenges from opposite ends of political spectrum

AUGUSTA, Maine — Former Oxford County Democratic Party Chair Cathy Newell was sitting in the party’s Bethel office on Wednesday, where you could pick up a sign supporting independent U.S. Sen. Angus King’s 2018 re-election bid. You’d just have to get it from her car.

That’s because Newell of Greenwood thought it better not to bring signs for non-Democrats inside, even though many of the same people who volunteer for phone banks that Newell organizes for King also make calls for Democrats.

“Well, I’m a pretty straight-ticket Democratic voter,” said Newell, going through the type of response she usually gives to skeptical liberals. “I’ve been the county chair over here, but I’m absolutely supporting Angus King because he’s respected in Washington, he’s doing his job and most of the time, he votes with the Democrats.”

That sums up the political space that King, 74, of Brunswick occupies in the likely coda to his career. In November, King is the heavy favorite for re-election over challengers from his right and left, state Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, and Democrat Zak Ringelstein of Yarmouth, in a race to be decided by ranked-choice voting.

Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2018/10/09/politics/angus-king-quietly-tries-to-fend-off-challenges-from-opposite-ends-of-political-spectrum/