State Rep. Jim Campbell, a veteran Republican moderate, has announced that he is leaving the Republican Party to become an independent:

“This move has been a long time coming for me. I have been very frustrated with the Republican Party in Maine, and nationally, for their failure to address the health care crisis in a meaningful way. Nobody has all the answers, but the Republican Party has none when it comes to health care reform.”

He also tells Politico’s Ben Smith: “I’m for this public option big time.”

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