Angle May Run as Independent

Las Vegas Review-Journal reports:

Republican Sharron Angle is considering running as an independent or third-party candidate for Congress if there's a special election and the GOP does not put her on the ballot.

That was the word circulating Monday as maneuvering intensified to win U.S. Rep. Dean Heller's seat if it becomes vacant.

If Angle does run as an independent, a three-way race with her, a Republican and a Democrat could open the way for a Democrat to win Heller's GOP seat, according to a new poll.

"It would not surprise me if she did that," said Robert Uithoven, a GOP consultant whose candidate lost the 2010 Senate Republican primary to Angle in 2010. "I don't think Sharron Angle has really ever cared about the consequences of a general election. I think her agenda for the last 20 years has been to get on the ballot to promote herself."

Such a three-way race scenario might not come to pass, however. It all depends on what happens next in the wake of scandal-plagued U.S. Sen. John Ensign's sudden resignation, which takes effect May 3.

Gov. Brian Sandoval plans to make his appointment to Ensign's seat by Friday. He's expected to pick Heller, which would mean calling a special election within six months to fill the vacant House seat.

Nevada law isn't clear on whether such a special election would be open to all comers -- including Angle, other Republicans, Democrats, independents and third-party candidates -- or whether the political parties' central committees can put forward one candidate each. Secretary of State Ross Miller will have to decide the rules if Heller is appointed.