Pillsbury prepares for Windham Senate showdown with Shumlin, White

Independent State Representative Darryl Pillsbury's announcement that he is challenging Democrats Peter Shumlin and Jeanette White for their Windham Senate seats signals the start of what is sure to be a closely watched race.

Pillsbury, who has served in Montpelier for four terms, doesn't mince words: he'd rather take out Shumlin, the Senate President.

"I don't particularly like him. I think he's a master of spin," Pillsbury told PolitickerVT.com.

Pillsbury fashions himself as a maverick who doesn't toe either party line. He said that while Shumlin has shown himself to be an effective legislator in certain respects, the Senate President is also an ideological operative whose focus is on pushing forward the Democratic Party's agenda in the Senate.

"He's the guy who's the strategist for the Democratic Party," said Pillsbury.

Pillsbury acknowledges that defeating Shumlin or White will be difficult. Both have become high name recognition and experience - Shumlin has served five consecutive terms in the Senate and before that served in the House for two terms. White will be running for her fourth Senate term.

Pillsbury also recognizes that he will face difficulties on the fundraising front. Shumlin and White have developed fundraising bases from their previous runs for Senate and will have the resources of the Vermont Democratic Party at their disposal. In his four runs for his Brattleboro seat he has spent $300 in total, he says.

Pillsbury is challenging Shumlin to abide by a spending cap for the race. But he concedes it's a long-shot effort.

While Pillsbury lacks certain institutional advantages, he does have something working in his favor: the quiet cheering from outsiders who would love to see Shumlin ousted.

In his nearly two decades in Montpelier, Shumlin has cultivated a set of supporters who see him as a skilled and effective legislator - and a set of equally passionate opponents who see the powerful Senate President as dishonest and manipulative.

Progressives and Republicans do not go so far as to publicly state they are actively supporting Pillsbury's candidacy, but their dislike for Shumlin is clear.

Vermont Progressive Party executive director Morgan Daybell said Shumlin has shown a propensity to back away from agreements he has made in order to further his own interests.

"People don't see that as leadership," said Daybell.

Vermont GOP chair Rob Roper was more direct in describing Shumlin:

"He's an egomaniac."

What remains to be seen is whether the attitudes insiders have towards Shumlin will trickle down to his Windham constituents.

The Vermont Democratic Party, for its part, waved off the complaints about Shumlin.

"Senator Shumlin is doing a fantastic job," said executive director Jill Krowinski. "We're proud of his leadership. He's doing great work."

Since he announced his candidacy late last week, Pillsbury says the Vermont press has tried to portray the contest as between him and Shumlin. But he says it's not accurate.

"I'm not challenging either one of them. I'm just running for the seat," he said