Snowe decision rocks political landscape

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) rocked the political landscape with a stunning announcement that she won't run again, drawing the curtain on a storied political career and staggering Republican hopes to recapture a Senate majority.

Sen Snowe, who has represented Maine in Congress since 1978, said she no longer wanted to serve in an increasingly partisan and polarized Senate. "As I have long said, what motivates me is producing results for those who have entrusted me to be their voice and their champion," she said. "I do find it frustrating, however, that an atmosphere of polarization and 'my way or the highway' ideologies has become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions." Her move stunned top Republican Senate leaders, as well as Snowe's own campaign staff, who said they learned of the senator's decision shortly before it was announced. Snowe had stockpiled nearly $3.4 million in her campaign war chest as of Dec. 31, led by 40 points in internal GOP polls and won in 2006 with 74 percent of the vote. Her decision not to seek a fourth term set off a political frenzy both in Washington and Maine political circles. In Washington, national GOP leaders and independent analysts had considered Snowe's seat safely in Republican hands as the GOP aimed to topple Democrats' 53-seat Senate majority.