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Photo: snowe.senate.gov

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine bristled at Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s litmus test for deciding whether she can call herself a Republican. “I’ve been a lifelong Republican. I haven’t changed. I don’t know what the problem is. I really don’t,” Snowe told the Politico. “Other Republicans could probably borrow more from me … in terms of being in touch with your constituents.”

Snowe gave Pawlenty an out: ”I know Gov. Pawlenty to be a thoughtful person, and I know if he could have rephrased it or re-characterized it he would.”