Comfortably ahead in the polls, Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas still faced a world of uncertainty in Tuesday’s election.
At issue: a state Constitution provision that requires the leading gubernatorial candidate to poll more than 50 percent of the vote. If no one does, the election goes to the Democrat-controlled state Legislature, where lawmakers would vote in secret ballot – in January.
Douglas, a 57-year-old Republican, didn’t get a majority in either of two WCAX-TV polls. In the most recent, he had 47 percent, to 24 percent for Democrat Gaye Symington and 23 percent for independent Anthony Pollina.
With Democrats firmly in control of both houses of the Legislature, Douglas could win at the polls and end up losing.
In 2002, Douglas defeated Democrat Doug Racine at the polls but got only 45 percent of the vote, to 42 percent for Racine. The Legislature voted Douglas in, anyway.
Only once in the past century have Vermont lawmakers chosen the also-ran. In a 1976 race for lieutenant governor, the Legislature chose Republican T. Garry Buckley over Democrat John Alden in a 90-87 vote – even though Alden captured more votes at the polls.
"I hold out hope that if Douglas gets less than 50 percent, perhaps the Legislature will vote (Symington) in," said Sarah Keeley, 28, of Montpelier, a Democrat who voted for Symington on Tuesday.
"I think they should vote for Symington or Pollina. They shouldn’t be locked in to the candidate with the most votes," said Judy Whitney, 49, of Worcester, who voted for Symington
Douglas, a savvy campaigner known for his fiscal conservatism, has fashioned a 13-1 record in statewide elections despite being a Republican in a left-leaning state. His opponents have criticized his record on economic issues, and painted him as soft on the troubled Vermont Yankee nuclear plant and its owners.
Symington, 54, a veteran lawmaker and outgoing House speaker, entered the race late and has struggled to distinguish herself on the campaign trail and in debates.
Pollina, a 56-year-old Progressive Party member who switched his affiliation to independent midway through the campaign, is seen as a spoiler – helping split the anti-Douglas vote.
Also in the race were Liberty Union candidate Peter Diamondstone, independents Cris Ericson and Sam Young and Cheap Renewable Energy candidate Tony O’Connor.