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Maine’s Angus King to caucus with Senate Democrats

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Maine's Angus King to caucus with Senate DemocratsSen. Susan Collins, R-Maine meets with Sen.-elect Angus King, I-Maine in her office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, to discuss committee assignments and how they'll work together to represent Maine in the Senate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (Credit: AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Independent Senator-elect Angus King of Maine says he has decided to caucus with Democrats, which will add to the party’s voting edge. His decision ends months of speculation about which party he would align with.

The former Maine governor was elected last week to replace retiring Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe, a prominent centrist. GOP and conservative super PACs spent millions of dollars to attack King during the campaign for Snowe’s seat.

With King joining their caucus, Democrats will have a 55 to 45 edge in the Senate.

King said Wednesday that caucusing with Democrats will still allow him to take independent positions on issues.

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