Progressive Party gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina held a rally on Thursday, yet led most observers to believe that he was going to announce his challenge to Brian Dubie for lieutenant governor. Speculation on the morning news was that Pollina would bow out of the race for governor, giving former House Speaker Gaye Symington, a Democrat, a clear shot to unseat Republican Gov. Jim Douglas this fall. And the Progressives and Democrats would be again lining up their interests for the greater good.

But it was not to be ... Pollina announced to Vermont he was staying put and going to act the spoiler.

Democrats are likely watching their chances to take the governorship slip away.

Yes, we are more than five months away from Election Day, yet a three-way race all but dooms both Symington and Pollina. A number of Democratic activists today wrote to say it was pay back time for Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and a few wanted Democratic U.S. Sen. Pat Leahy to collect.

As the leader of the Democratic Party in Vermont and a potential future Appropriations Committee chairman, you would think between Leahy and former Gov. Howard Dean we could get a little leverage on Sanders.

The Democratic Party was a huge help in ensuring that a "Crazy Communist" ex-mayor of Burlington became a U.S. Senator.

Now, not even Bernie may be able to talk to Pollina, yet the rumble has been that the Democratic leadership had better try or their chances to win the governorship may be over by July.