Shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works give endorsement to John Baldacci> Union members also back Andrews, Brennan; Sportsmen for Snowe organized

AUGUSTA — Congressional candidate John Baldacci is trying to make the most of his endorsement by union shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works, while Senate GOP nominee Olympia Snowe is organizing sportsmen who back her.

Baldacci, a Democrat who is trying to beat Republican Richard Bennett in Maine’s 2nd District, won the endorsement of Local S-6 in August.

Democratic 1st District candidate Dennis Dutremble also was endorsed at a general membership meeting, according to S-6 Legislative Committee Chairman Bert Wartell.

Earlier, said Wartell, the local endorsed Democrat Tom Andrews for Senate and Democrat Joseph Brennan for governor.

Baldacci issued a statement saying that “BIW’s broadening of civilian contracts and its unique relationship between labor and management represents hope for the future of Maine and this country.”

Meanwhile, Snowe announced the formation of a Sportsmen for Snowe group Saturday in her campaign for the Senate against Andrews.

The 2nd District congresswoman held a news conference in Bangor to tout the new campaign steering committee and underscore her endorsement by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, which came weeks ago.

“Enjoying the outdoors allows me to realize how important it is to protect natural resources,” said Snowe, an Auburn resident who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1978.

Maine’s organized outdoorsmen’s lobby’s endorsement of Snowe was unsurprising, given its opposition to gun control and the pro-Brady Bill stance taken by Andrews.

The sportsmen’s organization has declared its backing for both major party candidates in the 2nd District congressional race, Baldacci and Bennett. In the 1st District, SAM endorsed Republican James Longley Jr. over Dutremble.

SAM President Jim Gorman praised Snowe for supporting SAM on a variety of issues as a member of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.

“We know we can count on Olympia to be our friend, and to fight for Maine’s interests in Washington,” Gorman said in a statement.