Vermont Ex-Gov. Snelling Will Challenge Sen. Leahy

Former Republican Gov. Richard A. Snelling said Thursday that he will run for the U.S. Senate next year against incumbent Democrat Patrick J. Leahy, setting up a contest between two of the state’s most popular politicians.

Snelling said the lack of action to erase the federal deficit provided the prime motivation for his candidacy, and he said Leahy “has not shown any willingness to get the deficit under control.”