Sen. Susan Bartlett made her most direct effort yet to cast herself as the lone moderate in the race for governor.

In an e-mail to those on her campaign's e-mail list, she said of her opponents (Democrats and Republican): "One speaks of strength. One speaks of changing everything. One says Montpelier is grid-locked. One wants to raise taxes. One would continue to gut state government."

She seeks to lay claim to the middle and says: "It is time for the middle to rise up."

She is pointed about the Democratic Party's past candidates.
"Since Howard Dean we have had to choose between a liberal and a conservative. Douglas and Racine. Douglas and Parker. Douglas and Clavelle. Douglas and Symington or Pollina. This time moderates have a choice for governor that reflects our values. Fiscal responsibility and balance."

As proof of her status as a moderate she points to Seven Days recent legislative survey (without noting the dismal participation rate the survey received), which found her "most knowledgeable," "best informed" and "stingiest" of legislators.

And she notes her stance on Vermont Yankee in which she objected to the timing of this month's vote.

Does Bartlett rightly lay claim to being the most moderate of the candidates?

- Terri Hallenbeck

Labels: Sen. Susan Bartlett, vermont politics