Cake, lobster appetizers for fall campaign

AUGUSTA — Birthday cakes and lobster bakes were on the political menu in Maine on Saturday, as the summer doldrums gave way to a livelier pre-election phase.

In Kennebunk, former Secretary of State Edmund S. Muskie threw a lobster bake for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joseph E. Brennan at the Muskie home.

Meanwhile, in Bangor, Sen. William S. Cohen played basketball against rivals from his high school days before digging into a birthday cake at what was billed as an informal public gathering to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Brennan’s campaign spokeswoman said about 300 people attended the event at Kennebunk, which organizers hoped would raise more than $100,000 for the congressman’s campaign to reoccupy the Blaine House.

“It rained during part of it, but there still was a good crowd,” said Barbara Reinertsen.

The fund-raiser came four days after President Bush appeared as a special guest at a brunch and golf tournament in Falmouth to raise money for Brennan’s rival, incumbent Republican Gov. John R. McKernan.

About 60 people paid $1,000 each to attend the brunch, and about 40 people whose companies contributed $5,000 each played golf with the governor and president. Bush also helped raise funds later in the week for David F. Emery’s campaign to regain the 1st Congressional District seat Brennan has occupied for two terms.

Cohen started the weekend on an informal note as he took the court with his former Bangor High teammates to take on 1950s rivals from John Bapst High School. The public was also treated to jazz music, lemonade and food, including a birthday cake made in the senator’s honor.

Cohen’s annual trip to the St. John Valley is planned for later this week, when he will visit Caribou, Presque Isle, Madawaska, Fort Kent, Van Buren and St. Agatha. A campaign fund-raiser is scheduled for Thursday in St. David.