I didn't realize that running as an independent would be perceived as a threat to the Democrats.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Temperamentally, I am suspicious of belonging to anything. When I ran for office, I debated seriously whether or not to run as an independent because I was not eager to be saddled with the Democratic Party, because any party label is committing.
I was not a Democrat; I was an independent. Here's the thing: You can't win that way. But I didn't know that.
I'm not a Democrat, I'm an Independent, but I caucus with the Democrats.
I am a Democrat. But I am an independent Democrat.
I'm an independent, but I got to admit I lean Democratic.
I think really that you shouldn't run as a conservative if you're not.
An Independent is someone who wants to take the politics out of politics.
My tenure in the Senate was really as an independent and whichever, regardless of party label.
I always tell people I'm running against two Democrats, one that admits it and one that does not.
A lot of disgruntled Democrats that don't like Obama - old-line Democrats, some of them even conservative - will never vote for a Republican ticket, but they will vote for me as an independent.