Olympia Snowe in Against the Tide, by Lincoln Chafee

On Abortion: Voted for Alito to avoid primary challenge on abortion

That evening the phone rang at my home. On the 1st ring, I thought, "Olympia's voting for Alito." Olympia said the Maine Republican Party had voted to field a challenger against her in a primary election if she opposed Alito.

A primary always invites a stronger challenger in the general election; this is an unavoidable dynamic that every incumbent politician has to confront. Could Snowe afford to vote her conscience on the threat to Roe v. Wade and women's reproductive freedoms if it means a costly and bitter fight in a primary? She would spend much of her campaign funds to combat negative advertising in that intraparty battle.

In fairness to Olympia, her vote would not have mattered; Judge Alito had more than enough votes to win confirmation, including some from Democrats.