AUGUSTA, Maine — After Democrats threw their biggest names into the mix for Olympia Snowe’s soon-to-be vacated U.S. Senate seat earlier this week, Republicans were the newsmakers on Friday. Five members of the GOP took out petitions for a Senate run, joining previously declared Republican candidate Scott D’Amboise in the race.
Secretary of State Charlie Summers became the first Republican to take out petitions after Snowe announced Tuesday that she would not seek a fourth term. Treasurer Bruce Poliquin followed close behind Friday afternoon, then former Maine Senate President Rick Bennett and state Sen. Debra Plowman. Attorney General William Schneider joined the race late Friday.
Summers, of Scarborough, was a longtime member of Snowe’s staff and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House in 2008.
“Of course I worked for her for a long, long time and hold her in extremely high regard,” he said in an interview on Friday. “Now that the seat is open, I think I’ve served in public office and have done a lot of good things and I’m excited about this opportunity.”
Bennett, of Oxford, lost a U.S. House race to John Baldacci in 1994 and has been out of politics for about a decade. However, he has been a player behind the scenes and is the Republican National Committeeman from Maine.
“I’m excited for the chance to get into this effort and to qualify as an official candidate for U.S. Senate,” Bennett said in a statement. “We are at a critical point in our state’s and our nation’s history. People are hurting. They want jobs. They want hope. They want a future for their kids. This is not time for business as usual or politics as usual.”
Plowman, of Hampden, had been exploring a run for the U.S. House but now says she’s considering a run for the U.S. Senate.
“Understanding the task ahead, I will begin to start circulating petition forms and use that as an opportunity to meet face to face with voters and get a sense of my best position to continue to serve the people of Maine,” she said in a statement. “It is my hope to have a decision by Monday.”
Schneider served in the Legislature and the U.S. Army.
“America is at an economic cross-roads — we are spending too much and our job climate continues to suffer,” he said in a statement. “The independent and self-reliant spirit of Maine can and should serve as an example to the rest of the country. Having served in the United States Army and as Attorney General, I understand the importance of discipline, hard work, and making the tough decisions to get our economy back on track.
Poliquin, who lives in Georgetown, did not return a call for comment.
In the three-plus days that have passed since Snowe declared she wouldn’t seek a fourth term, the Senate race — and the two U.S. House races — have started to come into focus.
But things are far from settled and likely will not be until the filing deadline for party candidates on March 15.
2nd District U.S. House race
The race that was most clarified late Thursday night and early Friday morning was the 2nd District U.S. House race.
Essentially, things are back where they started.
Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud and his Republican challenger Kevin Raye, the Maine Senate president, both said they would forgo the Senate campaign and remain opponents for the U.S. House.
“I want to continue to represent the wonderful people of Maine’s second district and keep working on the unique issues and challenges we face,” Michaud said in a statement late Thursday “I am also very proud of what I have been able to accomplish on behalf of Maine’s and America’s veterans and that work must continue.”
Raye said: “It has been an extraordinary two and a half days since Olympia Snowe announced her unexpected retirement from the U.S. Senate. During that time, my wife Karen and I have been overwhelmed by the many kind expressions of support and encouragement we have received from friends and supporters across Maine.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to remain a candidate for the 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
U.S. Senate race
Michaud’s decision leaves U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who represents Maine’s 1st District, and Baldacci, a four-term U.S. House member and two-term governor, as front-runners to be the Democratic nominee in the Senate race.
Former Secretary of State and U.S. Senate candidate Matt Dunlap, a Democrat, had taken out papers to run for the House but said Friday that Michaud’s decision effectively takes him out of that race. He plans to stay in the Senate race at least until March 15.
“How am I supposed to plan anything? You just have to keep going,” he said. “For me, it’s not about trying to get a cool job, it’s about the people I’ve met. All I can focus on is what I’m doing.”
Other Democratic Senate candidates include state Sen. Cynthia Dill of Cape Elizabeth and Benjamin Pollard, a Portland home builder, who were in the mix before Snowe made her decision.
Raye’s decision paved the way for Summers, Poliquin, Bennett, Plowman, Schneider and maybe others.
Republican-turned-independent Andrew Ian Dodge also is in, along with three little-known independents — Aaron Marston, Verne Paradie Jr. and Julia Carlson — who took out petition papers this week.
Two big-name Republicans — former gubernatorial candidates Peter Cianchette and Steve Abbott — took their names out of consideration late this week.
The decisions by Michaud and Raye also prompted some prospective 2nd District candidates to bow out. Emily Cain, the Maine House minority leader, announced late Thursday that she would not run for the U.S. House.
Bruce Bryant, a former Democratic state senator from Dixfield, also dropped out of consideration for the 2nd District seat.
1st District U.S. House race
The expected exit of Pingree from the 1st District House race could open the door for several Democrats.
Already, six have secured petitions: Barry Hobbins, the state Senate minority leader; Sen. Phil Bartlett of Gorham; Rep. Jon Hinck of Portland; David Lemoine, former state treasurer; Wellington Lyons; and David Costa. Hinck had been a Senate candidate, but switched Friday to the House.
Another name that has been mentioned is Hannah Pingree, former Maine House speaker and Chellie’s daughter.
On the Republican side, only Patrick Calder had declared before this week. However, since Snowe’s decision and since Pingree has expressed strong interest in the Senate seat, three Republicans have begun the signature-gathering process: Jonathan Courtney, the Senate majority leader; Markham Gartley; and John Vedral.
March 15 deadline
Party candidates for the U.S. Senate must turn in 2,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office by March 15. House candidates must submit 1,000.
Unenrolled candidates have until June 1 but must gather 4,000 signatures for the Senate or 2,000 for the House
Two prominent independents, former Gov. Angus King and former gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler, are contemplating entering the Senate race. Both have said they plan to make a decision by next week.
Secretary of State Summers addressed a question that popped up shortly after he announced his intent to gather signatures for the Senate race: Can the state’s top elections official run for office and keep his day job?
The answer is yes. Summers said there is nothing in Maine statute that requires him to step down, but he said there needs to be a clear separation between his job as a constitutional officer and his role as a candidate.
We should all carefully listen to Snowe’s letter “Why I am Leaving the Senate.”
She says “I am convinced that, if the people of our nation raise their collective
voices, we can effect a renewal of the art of legislating”
That’s it. We The People. The politicians are not going to do it for us, folks. The system is broken and corrupt, and those in power have been corrupted, or rendered helpless.
So lets get off our butt and go after the Legislatures that have signed a pledge to Grover Norquist (An unelected lobbiest) never to raise taxes!
It is unconstitutional for the legislature to surrender the power of Taxation.
Article (9) Section (9)
We all would like to have lower taxes but handcuffing the legislature to an Ideology will Ruin this State!
“The politicians are not going to do it for us, folks.”
Sprucey calls for a violent revolution and now you speak of the horrors of ‘Ruining the State’?
I can’t wait to destroy you two on the real battlefield….you simply know not the seeds you sow!!
Where do you see any call for a violent revolution?
This supposed “call” appears to exist nowhere but in your little mind.
He said “We The People”. Those are fighting words to some people.
Let me guess – the same people who were part of the 2008 Maine Republican convention who didn’t recognize the US Constitution in a classroom and called it subversive?
Those people?
Them and a whole bunch of others. If people think they are fighting words I’m going to enlist on the “We The People” side and fight.
that is exactly why king nor baldacci should not even be considered
I am feeling better that the possibility of Emily Cain being my US Representative will not become reality or have to be even considered by me again until right around this time in 2014.
We need to keep Emily Cain, D-Kentucky, as far away from policy making positions in Washington, D.C. as we can
Much rather see her in Washington than Augusta.
Looking at the possible slate,Ithink Emily Cain is a shoe-in. We have enough crooks in Congress.
Isn’t that the Emily Cain who we heard running around Augusta screaming (yes screaming) “I hate these tax cuts”?
That is her. The one who hates tax cuts and loves Welfare, with huge tax hikes, spending hikes, and borrowing to infinity.
Don’t say that! It looks like we are going to get many more.
We could get Hannah Pingree as well ugghh. Rochelle “Chellie” Pingree-Sussman is bad enough nevermind having Hannah getting involved running for Chellie’s seat.
Hahaha keep dreaming. She would lose to any Republican running if it’s her vs the Republican. The 2nd district is a very conservative district. Now that it has been redrawn and added more conservative areas along the coast . Emily has zero chance of winning. She has better chance of winning the Powerball , Mega Millions or at the Casino than being 2nd District Congresswoman.
Who could the Republicans possibly run? Has anyone heard from Les Otten? Could Peter Mills have a chance? I see Baldacci getting the nod from the Democrats. He was already a Representative, has been Governor and so the chance at the Senate seems to be his. Pingree stays put as she can probably beat her Republican challenger. And how does Angus King figure into all this? Is he a viable candidate at all?
There are still many people upset about former Governor Baldacci’s School Consolidation Act. I do not see him as a slam dunk. I think former Governor King has a better chance.
Baldacci will never have my vote. After his terms as governor, he proved he is more Republican than Democrat. King also acted like Republican in office, and what has he done since leaving office besides travel across the US in an RV?
HOney, honey, honey, – Do you read? Google Angus King and see what he has been dong since leaving office. Are you suggesting that because he took a trip with his family to unwind from 8 years in Augusta that it was a bad thing? Get a life! Long live the KING!
Angus, The Subsidized Windmill King.
The only problem with Baldacci’s school consolidation plan was that it didn’t go near far enough. You CANNOT fiscally sustain redundant schools in every town. Between the top heavy district administrations (due again to unnecessary redundancy), and underutilized school buildings, Maine is paying WAY TOO MUCH for the illusion of local control.
Be careful where you use capitals, I actually agree with you. But an overarching problem with School Administration is that it used a stick vs carrot approach. Additionally none of the potential education benefits for consolidation were touted, just the potential fiscal savings.
Didn’t Baldacci gamble away Maines Money ?
I think Pingree stays put and Baldacci is the candidate for the Democrats. Personally I hope that someone emerges that could beat him.
No, i am serious, I remember something about him investing some of Maines Money in a Wall Street Investment that Tanked. I tried to look it up and couldn’t find it.
Anybody Remember?
Kevin Lemoine, the States Treasurer under Baldacci invested funds in rare coins and those investments lost around 20 millions dollars I am remembering it all correctly.
He invested in a very highly rated fund that then tanked. Because the rating agency was culpable for the misleading and untruthful rating he also was able to recoup 100% of the money back into the state treasury.
Not sure you can blame that totally on Baldacci….
http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/08/28/maine-merrill-idUSN2834615620080828
I don’t see any of the Republican hopefuls beating any of the Democratic hopefuls. The Republicans are on the way out come November so you better get used to it now.
I would actively campaign for Peter Mills, but unless there is no credible conservative Republican in the primary he is not likely to pass the Tea Test.
If the moderates would get out and vote in the primaries he wouldn’t need to pass the TP litmus test. Unfortunately, for the most part, it’s only the extremes of the parties that care enough to go out on primary day.
Otten is all about Otten, so who knows? Mills, who hasn’t made any public noise about runnning, is the brightest and arguably the wisest, but too smart, too erudite and too considerate of others for rank and file angry Republicans. It seems they don’t trust smart people who use big words and like to read books. Baldacci barely won re-election in a three way race. He shouldn’t forget that, along with the popular notion of blaming him for the everything the current legislature and governor can’t either understand or solve. As for the unenrolled, suave and seemingly unflappable, Angus would do almost anything, yes even put up with the likes of moss-backed Senate bosses to keep wind-power tax breaks/subsidies alive. He doesn’t lack for an oversized ego, for sure; in fact, he leaves many with the impression he thinks he’s the smartest one in any room. Interesting times, no?
what about LePage?
Cue the crickets……………………..
It certainly would get him out of public office completely.
Don’t make me sick. It’s too early. He’d never win anyway. He wants to be God and that position is not open.
Just a small civics lesson for you. She already is the 1st District Congresswoman. She is running for the Senate which is a state wide office. There are no districts for Senators as each state has 2 unlike Representatives where the number is based on population. Go back and repeat 9th grade civics, you may learn something.
Joke of the day :
” “Republicans are more thoughtful in our policies and our politics,” said Brent Littlefield, a GOP strategist and a senior adviser to Gov. Paul LePage.”
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
ROTFLMAO and O and O!!!!
Hahahahahhahaha . . . was my response exactly.
Summers and Poliquin? Seriously? The only race either could hope to win is “most hated and ridiculed man in Maine politics.” Though neither stand much chance of finishing higher than 2nd in that race.
Run, guys, run! If the Republicans can’t do better than that, they are in trouble.
I “Liked” a lot of comments here but only Bruce’s photo provided me with an audible chuckle. I know it’s not nice to laugh and I wouldn’t if I had any respect for the man what-so-ever, but I don’t. What was that nursery rhyme, “There was a crooked man who had a crooked smile?” Shame on you BDN for making Bruce appear…well just plain crooked.
It’s not any worse than the photo of Dodge that was published when he dropped his Republican affiliation. Maybe the BDN is trying to lift our spirits in an otherwise dismal season.
Last time I checked, Poliquin was, by unanimous vote, being investigated by the Attorney General at the direction of the Maine Legislature (because of an incredibly rare, unanimous vote). Is this guy’s ego really big enough to make him think that he has a shot at becoming a Senator? He’ll be lucky to avoid a forced resignation and/or charges.
I don’t believe it’s a matter of ego, I believe it’s a matter of believing he did nothing illegal. Investigating is part of satisfying everyone that no law was broken. I’ve known Bruce since he was in high school. He isn’t stupid!
I noticed you didn’t say he was honest!
Okay, Bruce has many virtues and honesty is one of them!
So where’s his oh-so-honest-yet-somehow-never-filed timber management plan?
Nixon was a very smart guy. Your point is?
I didn’t say he was ‘stupid’. I just think that he’s cocky enough to believe that he didn’t break a law. Many of these type’s of ego don’t really believe that laws apply to them anyhow. This guy is calling beach front property a ‘woodlot’, either he thinks we’re all chumps, or he thinks he’s somehow exempt from our laws. You do the math on that one.
The R’s should save their $$ and time. Their association with the Penguin has slimed them more than anyone else can. I hope they realize that … self important, delusional elitist snobs from the Penguins administration and senate will get no state wide support in November 2012. They are probably hoping for King or Cutler to get in and split the vote… This time it won’t work…. WE won’t be fooled again.
This Tea Party fairytale is starting to break down quickly. When I look at tea-baggers now, I see people who have draped their views in the Constitution, but don’t seem to share the Constitutional values that make our country worth keeping. I grant you that most of these Tea-bags were in detention while the rest of us actually did homework, studied political science, western civilization and history. And somehow those detention kids now believe that they are divinely qualified to preach to us about ‘Our Nations Forefathers’, as though ‘Our Nations Forefathers’ are some amazing new concept.
While Glenn Beck was off smoking dope, Rush Limbaugh was off grinding up and snorting his housekeepers pills and O’Reilly was doing “it live”, I was going to college and reading.
Most of us wrote term papers about “Our Nations Forefathers’ in the 70’s and 80’s. We thought about them, we pulled out the valuable lessons, we debated their ideas with other thinking people and we developed our own views. We’ve been there and done that.
But now that Rush and Hannity and Beck and O’Reilly are reaching back and talking about the “Fore-Fathers” in bite-size, Cliff-note, easy to ‘get’ formats, the detention kids (at least some of them) are being called out and are speaking their minds. Dont’ get me wrong, I’ve got no problem with half-wits or detention kids for that matter, I just don’t want them to think that they’re ever going to lead me.
Chapter 7 – A Mad Tea-Party: Alice becomes a guest at a “mad” tea party along with the March Hare, the Hatter, and a sleeping Dormouse who remains asleep for most of the chapter. The other characters give Alice many riddles and stories, including the famous ‘Why is a raven like a writing desk?’. The Hatter reveals that they have tea all day because Time has punished him by eternally standing still at 6 pm (tea time). Alice (Olympia) becomes insulted and tired of being bombarded with riddles and she leaves claiming that it was the stupidest tea party that she had ever been to.
Pleeeeeeeze let Poliquin run! It will make things so much eaiser. But really, Charlie Webster is the clear choice as he clearly represents all Republicans in Maine. (sarcasm, people.)
You better hope Rick Bennett doesn’t win in the primary because he could be a real threat in the General. He was a great Senate President who worked really well with Democrats and is not divisive like most politicians. If it is was a 4 way race with the Democrat, Angus King , Cutler , Bennett . I think the Democrat (Pingree or Baldacci) finishes fourth with a very close 3 way battle with Cutler, King and Bennett.
Anyone from the GOP is a THREAT to society!
And any Dem. is a threat to continue to keep spending money we dont have
There is not a republican in Maine that can win this race. They may as well dig a hole in the ice and jump in.
Actually I think Bennett is the Republicans best chance to win. He was a good Senate President when their was a Split Legislature several years ago. He worked well with Democrats to get things done wasn’t partisan. I think if it is a Democrat, Bennett and the 1 to 2 Democrat-Independents (King and Cutler) the Democrat finishes last with Bennett and the other candidates battling it out in a close race.
What?
We have it, however some of us just refuse to pay the bills!
Your really clueless as I said you better hope Bennett doesn’t run. I think him and AG Bill Schenider are the 2 best Republicans that have announced to run with Bennett being the best hands down. Rick will be a force in the general because he was a popular and well respected legislator in the Legislature. But Rick has been out of politics for several years. He by far is the best candidate to run , Peter Mills would be another good choice for the Republicans. The rest are just career losers (Democrats, King and Culter) who can’t find real employment. They want to continue to live off of the Government Trough.
I think Cutler and King will decide amonst themselves which will run. I think King runs, and Cutler waits to beat Lepage by a landslide.
I like that scenario…
Actually I think Rosa Scarcelli and Barbara Merrill runs again in 2014 both are the only ones who can beat LePage. Scarcelli even with her “faults” as of late will be a tough candidate in 2014. Baldacci was lucky to win re-election because if the vote was 10 days later he would have lost Merrill would have won because by far she was the best candidate besides Woodcock out of those who ran. She as well can beat LePage in 2014.
Brent Littlefield is a bigger joke than LePage. He is a complete idiot, no more than a
Rush WANT-TO-BE. This whole field reminds me of the Republican list for President we have had to endure for the past year. What a sad commentary.
Can you imagine how the vote counting for the Republican primary will turn out? The Republican party bosses in Michigan announced yesterday that the rule the had voted on in early Feb. was a mistake, so Santorum didn’t get one delegate he was supposed to get. (Making the rule change after the election seems a bit suspicious.)
In Maine, have they ever declared a winner after the Feb. caucuses? When it seemed Ron Paul might win, they did a hurry up cut-and-paste job to suit the party bosses.
And the Republican Party wonders why a lot of people have no confidence in their ability to run an election. Bunch of crooks.
yup
Gathering 2,000 signatures without anyone knowing or talking? Please. Give me a break. The GOP establishment is in disarray and this is just wishful thinking. They are in full panic mode now that D’Amboise will probably make the ballot as his campaign has been gathering signatures since January, like all other candidates.
Come on! If anyone can collect the signatures without the public knowing it it’s Charlie Webster and his Republican Red Guard. Look, he knew the caucus results by towns before they met. (Its a shame true Republicans have to go through this, but its what they selected for leadership)
You know, you’re right – this sounds more like the Communist Party everyday.
I was thinking “fascict”
The host body of the Republican Party has been silenced by the parasite Tea Party, which has been sucking the life out of the once proud GOP.
I know what you mean. I can’t believe I was a registered Republican for 14 years.
I thought red matched YOUR eyes Charlie.
are we actually considering baldacci as a viable candidate for this!!?? spare me. lets look at it, dirigo health financial disaster, mainecare in diserray, consolidation, a budget deficit and unemployment numbers like never before, dhhs fraud rampant, mdot stealing program dollars, state sponsored land fills to patch mill issues that take toixic waste from other states, really?? Yeah lets send this retread to washington to do the fixin! Chellie is the class of this race by far and I have no allegiance to her just the way I see it. Her daughter would win that vacated seat easily as well. Baldacci, king, I mean really?? Are we considering this?? yuk yuk yuk
Several of the things you attribute to Baldacci have come about directly because of Lepage’s actions.
I don’t like either Baldacci or Lepage, but a little honesty would result in a better debate.
Spin baby spin.
I see you cannot give any actual argument against the truth.
Thanks for reenforcing my point so completely!
What? A conservative make an argument based on facts? Surely you jest.
The scariest thing about this is that Baldacci doesn’t even realize just how lousy a job he did as governor. He is a polished, career political hack, period.
Indeed. And who’s doing the polishing, one might ask.
Starting at age 23, he has had lots of years to practice
King did Ok…he left us without debt…
The King mandated Fingerprinting Teachers!
A violation of our right against unreasonable search and siesure!
Let drug test people on welfare instead, that’s not a
violation of our right against unreasonable search and seizure.
We have to be drug tested at work. Why not get tested for doing NO work…
Your first in line!
They drug test everyone in the military, you want ur check then take the test.
Go ask Jethro why you would write: “A violation of our right against unreasonable search and siesure!” when it comes to teachers, but it’s OK for the military.
Yeah it is!
I am assuming you are NOT a teacher because you spelled seizure wrong. I would not have a problem being fingerprinted because I am not breaking any law. You can also look at it as a protection. I do not find that a violation in anyway.
You obviously shouldnt be teaching US History!
I may not be much at spelling but I can comprehend constitutional law.
Stick to grammar
You are very misled. King left Badacci with a very large debt, read the old BDN articles.
You must be forgetting the $1.5 Billion dollar shortfall he left Baldy when Baldy first took office. I am not defending Baldacci don’t like the guy think he is creepy and sleazy. But to say King left Maine in good shape is laughable.
He kicked McKernan’s unfunded liability down the road and never addressed it.
test
Who is Brewer? The article contains his or her comments as to who would make the strongest candidate, but never lets on as to who he/she is.
I read in a different article that he’s a political science professor at one of the Maine universities, don’t recall which one.
Since Keven Raye has already told us he decided not to run. This must mean he wasn’t Olympia’s choice to replace her.
Bummer I was really hoping Mr Michaud was going to help Maine by running.It was a shot at getting rid of Miss Cain from Augusta.
Who’s the DC lobbying group that currently has Republican State Senator Kevin Raye on their payroll? Wouldn’t serving in the U.S. Senate or House be a conflict? Talk about double dipping — he’s paid by us taxpayers as a State legislator to decide public policy and then by a DC Special Interest group to convince us as to — public policy?
Right on. Kevin Raye would be the least effective person on the planet to do anything in D.C. to help the Second District. He is an ineffective milk-toast.
My biggest problem with Raye is that he’s a lying dirtbag.
If you agree with a lot if Senator Snowe’s comments, you should check out http://www.nolabels.org – it is not party sponsored. It is a group made of people from all parties who want to see our government working again – for us. They are the group that asked congress to sit next to a member of the other party during the last state of the union address. They are also the group helping support the “No Budget, No Pay” act (where congress would loose their pay during any time period a budget doesn’t pass on time.)
Raye 2012
I think the Michaud/Raye race is still on for the 2nd Congressional district. Two of Maine’s political heavyweights in rematch looks like a fun match up to observe. Yes, I think that the politic process is a fun sport to watch and participate in. Mike and Kevin are both very smart men and the debates between the two gentlemen looks to be like a good intellectual discussion.
Pingree is my choice as a Senate candidate over Baldacci. I have nothing against him, I just like the idea of more women serving us in Washington when the opportunity arises. I hope that Deb Plowman thinks about getting into the race too. She has been a strong voice for the GOP in Augusta and the idea of the potential Pingree/Plowman debates looks like a great way of representing the women of both political parties.
I really do not know that much about the 2nd district candidates, thus I will not render an opinion about them.
Rick Bennett earned well deserved accolades during his earlier run for Congress. He would make a great candidate and even better US Senator.
he’s the better one out of the three, that’s for sure
Charlie Summers……………….. HAHAHAHAHAHA!
test
Whats even worse is Poliquin.
Charlie isn’t making enough being a store front manaquin.
Summers has to resign – conflict of interest. He can’t count his own signatures – what a pathetic group of hacks. Good job Charlie Webster, another winner!! You’ll only infuriate the GOP base even further.
Poliquin, who the AG has been asked to rule if he is breaking the law?
… AND the AG himself too!
It’s like a script from the Twilight Zone.
I don’t like anyone running…BRING ON CIANCHETTE!
It takes alot of Balls to feel you have a chance at gathering another political seat after your possible actions have casted a shadow over the position you currently hold !
Poliquin ? The GAUL these 1 %ers have.
Summers & Poliquin ? Just how deranged are these Tea Freaks ? Who’s next, Charlie Webster ?
Will Summers be looking for signatures from voters he wants to disenfranchise and do we know yet how much Poliquin will be paying per signature?
If Poliquin intends to fund with a tree harvest he might as well give up now.
Who certifies the petition signatures of a sitting Sec’y of State? (quid custodiet ipso custodes?)
Charlie Webster, because of course he knows the count before signatures are even gathered!
Summers for Senate
And why do you say that?
Let’s hear something substantive.
Or is “bumper sticker” your only political language?
Charlie worked for years for the State of Maine, our country and has helped out many small businesses.
Who do you support…?
Charlie Summers is an empty suit party hack who will forever be joined at the hip to that other contemptible hack, Charlie Webster. The Two Charlies. Their voter suppression agenda is part of a national effort and it is disgraceful and un-American.
This whole thing is a ruse designed by Charlie Webster. If they can get D’Amboise to drop out of the race, then they can extend the March 15th deadline.
These clowns know it’s too late to get 2,000 signatures and now it’s just ol’ time smoke and mirrors to present the appearance of a bunch of “serious candidates” – just the same ol’ hacks today as the same ol’ hacks as yesterday.
Is it any surprise the 3 guys getting into this race are all GOP party hacks? Just following orders Herr Webster!!!
Nice try Charlie, this will backfire just like your caucuses. How pathetic you GOPers are.
Did you notice? BDN didn’t include D’Amboise in their poll. :)
Hey, they’ve added Scott to their poll. Since then, he is already at 42+%!
Bruce Poliquin, ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!!!!
They are only Fooling themselves!
I think he would just stay in long enough to pretend that is why he has to quit as Treasurer.
I wonder how Hitler would do if he was still alive lol.
Not radical enough for the Tea Drinkers!
Bruce Poliquin has done an outstanding job as Maine State Treasurer. Because of that, he has my full support. Go Bruce!
I agree, mainemajority. We need his financial expertise and willingness to expose corruption in DC.
What Rush Limbaugh said about that young collage student would surly apply to these three.
Nobody Listens to Rush!
Thats the Only reason that he made that Crude statement,
He is trying to get attention!
What else would you call someone who spends $3000 on contraceptives over a 3-year span?
Take your pick – she’s either what he mentioned, a complete idiot (given the fact that with generic equivalents the most she’d have to spend is around $300 over 3 years) and/or a democrat patsy who was used by the D’s on Capitol Hill in a bizarre attempt to score political points.
My pick is all 3 of the above.
Many women (my wife among them) cannot use the generics. She has to have the brand name stuff, to keep ovarian cysts in check. I’ll thank you to shut the eff up about stuff my wife (and others) need to stay alive, and keep your stinkin hands off her insurance.
He has a lot of listeners but I agree no one really hears what he says or they wouldn’t follow his every command like ditto heads.
People should boycott WVOM’s advertisers until they drop this loathsome Rush Limbaugh POS.
Call the advertisers, tell them you’re boycotting them and let the station know it’s time they dropped this toxic fraud from the air … now.
It will be interesting to see if any advertiser’s are willing to risk their own reputations by supporting a swine like Limbaugh.
http://thinkprogress.org/stand-with-sandra-fluke-s/?mobile=nc
Link to Petition
I’m pretty sure she was a 30-year old law student. I read nothing of her taking art classes. Besides, she was probably to busy doing, ahem, other things – she wouldn’t have had time to work on collage.
Sandra Fluke, a third-year Georgetown University law school student who was barred from testifying at a recent Congressional hearing on the Obama administration’s policy requiring religiously-affiliated institutions to provide contraception in employee health plans. Read more: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-03-02/politics/31115859_1_rush-limbaugh-contraception-democratic-women#ixzz1o4ZBypys
Rush Limbaugh on the other hand is a draft dodger a long time drug addict and is on his forth wife.
And no children. (Isn’t sex just for procreation?). And, oh yes, there was that little thing a while back about getting caught with a suitcase full of viagra in the Dominican Republic. Such an upstanding, fine man.
Funny how all the right winger love this guy. Even though his life style is everything they claim to oppose.
poliquin probably figures he is about to the end of his maine career so we should put him into a higher position so he can really muddy the water.
Oh, it’s time for Sarah to get into the lineup… Pictures worth a thousand words? Bruce Poliquin sure has a S _ _ _ eating grin! Or, maybe he just passed gas!
So this is what we’ve been paying Poliquin for the past year.
All those guys jumping off the Governors sinking ship? How dare they?
By the obvious left tilt of these comments, someone must have left the gate of the funny farm unlocked. Mercy!
Q: What has 284 eyeballs and four private sector jobs?
A: The comment section of the Bangor Daily News.
Schneider too ? LMAO, what a rogues gallery they will make !
With this lineup of clowns, this is promising to be a most spectacular circus. Can’t wait to see the Norquist high wire act. Looks like some of the clowns are tired of working with ringmaster Paul.
I like Rick Bennett the best. He would be a good alternative to King and Pingree.
Hmmm… Since Herman Cain, (Fig the)Newt, Ron Paul are trailing, maybe their hat will be in the circus rings. Oh, how could I forget, Rush Blowhard!
What an oppurtunity to ditch LePage. It is a sad day when all the State of Maine has to offer for a GOP candidate is a bunch of tea party crooks.
WE dodged an authoritarian bullet by Cain deciding not to run.
Cain ain’t done supporting RQ and has plenty of payback on her plate.
What a list! With the looming deadline, will Cousin Charlie be able to create some after that fact rules to get his favorite the nomination? At any rate, the GOP should be afraid of a King or Cutler run. Either of those moderates would be better than these Neo-Con Men.
No one has pointed out that the BDN has a corrupt list of Republican candidates. I realize that it is in fact the BDN and it leans way left but really. The non-elite, peopel’s choice Scott D’Amboise is not in the list. It appears the BDN has the same approach to this election that the “Party” players have had for a year. They are in denial. The same denial that Senator Snowe was in when she thought she could appease the conservative Republicans in the state. She was wrong. The Party and the Senator obviously assumed that if they ignore him he’d go away. Not gonna happen. Many Republicans are fed up with the way people,” the people”, are being treated. Hey, I know it’s politics but that is the word they are fed up with. There will be a change. The people will speak. It is evident by the large numbers that attended caucuses. – best to all of the mud slingers with no life.
If you look at the poll, you can see just how divided they (the repubs) are. Charlie Summer’s won’t stand a chance, Poliquin, NO WAY.
Maybe if Poliquin gets elected he can pay the rest of the state tax he owes on his ‘Tree Farm”.
It is probably a good idea that Poliquin took out papers since he may not be Treasurer much longer. However, I do doubt that he can get the necessary signatures by March 15th.
Are you kidding me??? Plowman??? HA! Holier than thou shill…Summers??? This guy would get blown out of the water by a ragdoll…Poliquin??? This guy can’t follow the Maine Constitution, what makes people think he has a chance of following the U.S. Constitution. Love how every rat on LIEpage’s stinking ship is trying to abandon him.
What a bunch of trash…and they’re going to find out just how unloved they really are…Be ready for a reality check. Can you friggin Dems not put up a total party shill?????
Big Mistake Keven. I think you could have won the US Senate Seate on a State wide campaign. Howere, I seriously believe that you can’t beat Michaud in the Second district. Michaud is a Moderate Democrat, so he will carry the “D”vote, Mike is a Pro Gunner and that is an asset in our Disrrict and a lot of Moderate Republican voters have supported him in the past and will vote for him again.
You had a good chance to win the the Senate Seat. The other wanabees won’t garnish the Rural votes and will get killed in the Liberal areas of Bangor, Augusta, Aubern/Lewiston, Biddeford /Saco, Portland /Cape Elizabeth. Our only hope is that Elliot Cuttler can defeat the Anti Second Ammendment, Anit Gunner Pingree. Baldacci is an also ran. Maine had enough of him, look at he condition in which he left our State.
For that matter, look at the condition our State is in after 45 years of Democratic Tax and Spend giveawy policies.
We need more Conservative Representatives and Senators that put “Party Politics” aside and due what our Forefathers did, meet on a common ground and do the best for All of us, poor, rich, and middle class.
What’s Baldacci going to run on? School consolidation? Turning Maine into a dumping ground for out-of-state trash?
That’s not what the Reuters story says. Not defending Baldacci, but Google search turns up nothing. Do you have a link?
If you like Michelle Bachmann you’ll love Debby Plowman.
Pingree and Plowman would be hard pressed to muster half a brain between them.
I don’t know too much about Pingree, although I’ve seen two interviews with her in recent days and she seems fairly intelligent to me. She was on channel 2/6 about a week ago and was thoughtful and well spoken.
I was not impressed at all with Plowman during all that phoney voter fraud stuff that Webster and crew made up earlier this winter. Plowman was parroting whatever Webster said, even though it made little sense and turned out to be nothing at all.
Pingree plays the same Washington game. What don’t you understand about her going along on a multimillion dollar paid congressional vacation to Italy with Nancy Pelosi on taxpayer money. Anyone who votes for a politician who has been part of the system..loves the system, loves the destruction of this country, and just loves going deeper in debt.
What will change with anyone of these folks?…Nothing!
Mike’s not running for the senate? Oh, drat! Guess I’ll have to vote for one of those republicans. But who are those people?
Bruce, no senate seat for you until you put Dale McCormick behind bars. Finish what you started.
David Lemoine, you need to find that $20-million of our tax dollars that ‘disappeared’ when you put it into MainSail II.
Dear BDN,
I didn’t vote in your Republican candidate poll, since you did not include Scott D’Amboise, who is my current preference. Did you folks forget about Scott again?! :)
Poliquin couldn’t get elected to the board of his own homeowners association.
This is most likely true
If running a business is not allowed as State Treasurer because it is a conflict of interest, then how can running for US Senate be any different? Running for anything takes a lot of time. Is Bruce going to jump in his Winebago again looking for votes? Maybe the court should add this to their list of things to consider about how the State Treasurer conducts business while in office. The picture of him in this article is priceless! : )
Yeah and also Secretary of State he has to certify the petitions and runs the elections.
The whole system is corrupt.
Better question is how will he run a campaign from behind bars? And don’t you love the irony of him having distain for the “trailer park” next to his empty beach club and him riding around in a Winebago!
Haha! I believe I remember him saying that the people in the trailer park were “Not his kind of people”…little did he know that he is a true camper at heart…albiet something the Kardashian’s might camp in.
Paul Violette gets my vote!
At least he is more honest than this field of candidates.
…..terms need to be limited for these folks to 2 terms…one in office and one in Prison!
Bwahahahahah…This GOP Senate field is as much a joke as their presidential clown car crew. Bye bye GOP. Mainers aren’t going to allow any of these goofballs to have that seat.
““How am I supposed to plan anything? You just have to keep going,” he
said. “For me, it’s not about trying to get a cool job, it’s about the
people I’ve met. All I can focus on is what I’m doing.”
What?!? I couldn’t have made a more meaningless comment if I tried!
Town clerks need five working days in which to verify the petition signatures. This means that in a practical sense party candidates have to turn in their nomination petitions by this Thursday, 8 March.
So a candidate must have either a strong ground game in place or the personal resources to hire paid signature gatherers. In years past the state parties would have coalesced around one candidate and made the push for them. The Maine Dems can still provide help, especially for those seeking the 1st District seat. The Maine GOP is in such disarray as to be of no help.
How is this fair…..
“Party candidates for the U.S. Senate must turn in 2,000 signatures to
the Secretary of State’s Office by March 15. House candidates must
submit 1,000.”
“Unenrolled candidates have until June 1 but must gather 4,000 signatures for the Senate or 2,000 for the House”
Fair? It’s in statute, law written by members of the Legislature: 21-A MRSA §335.B. and C.
That is correct…but is it “fair”? In the original Constitution of the State of Maine there is no mention of any political party. In the US constitution there is no mention of any political party. But the politicians can desecrate the Maine Constitution at their pleasure and create an advantage for themselves and you wonder why this State is so messed up. They should be limited to 2 terms, one in office and one in prison.
Think you can predict which candidates will end up on the June primary ballot? Enter this contest:
http://www.dirigoblue.com/2012/03/contest-who-will-make-the-primary-ballot-for-congressional-races/
Gotta say that Kevin Raye played this correctly, simply waiting to see some of the dust shake out before making a move – in his case, to stay put.
Why is the Bangor Daily trying to drive or shape this race? I am not personally a huge supporter of several of Scott Damboises policy positions. However your deliberate actions of not including him in a poll about the candidates running for Snowes seat is journalism at it’s lowest point. The man has been running for this seat for a couple of years now. To exclude a person who has put thousands of hours into his campaign running against Snowe is just unbelievable. I urge the Bangor daily to do the right thing and put a genuine poll up including Scott Damboise. The people of Maine deserve better than your exclusionary tactics! Do the right thing and save a little face, please B.D.N.
Yes, BDN’s silence in deafening. I am not voting in their little poll until Scott is included.
Here you have a guy from Lisbon who has been running for this U.S. Senate seat for almost a year, Scott D’Amboise and he is cut out of this article completely. Why? Because he is not some “Plastic politician”. This field of candidates above is a continuing regurgitation of the status quo.
If anyone in Maine believes that these politicians will change anything in Washington you are absolutely nuts. Senator Snowe is leaving her post for good reason because she is done with the polarization and the bickering in Washington. Pingree is a part of the problem, Baldacci has been there done that, Summers and all of the rest of these banshee’s are status quo. They are frothing at the mouth with joy that they are going to get the benefits and prestige that goes along with the insider trading, the massive percs of office the ability to become a multi millionaire. It is greed, it is phony baloney and these fools will do nothing. They will lie and use tom foolery and trickery to get you to believe they are your best bet. I wouldn’t bet on anyone of them. My money is on D’Amboise at least he will try to do the right thing by Maine and America and that is why he got into the race in the first place, to secure the American dream and future for our kids, not for greed and not to become a millionaire.
Yes, BDN’s silence in deafening. I am not voting in their little poll until Scott is included.
Anyone associated with the LePage administration will be toast if they win the nomination.
Plowman is a loon.
yessah
What happens if Poliquin (or another GOP hack) gets the signatures to make the ballot? Is it likely then that Snowe steps down altogether and LePage appoints Poliquin as Senator Poliquin?Don’t put this scenario past Herr Webster – rumor is it’s already in the works.
Congratulations US Senator Emily Cain!!!
If I was doing a poll and I first purposely ommitted the one candidate who was running for the seat for over a year and a half,but then I had a change of heart where would I list that candidate?Well if history shows that in all your other polls you list alphabetically, wouldn’t you put his name where it belongs and not at the bottom? Why is the Bangor Daily behaving like this? B.D.N please treat all the candidates with respect regardless of how you feel about them. The Alphabet A,B,C, and D. DAmboise
should be listed second. Give them man just a little bit of respect. A shred please?
They’re treating him like Ron Paul.
Poliquin??? Really??? Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Coming soon:
Democrat Maine governor
Democrat Maine majority house and senate
Democrat Maine US Senator
people who like fireworks are the only people that are going to vote R