Democrats weigh 2nd District options at convention

AUGUSTA – Some Democrats hoping to see a leader break out of the pack of 2nd Congressional District candidates left Saturday’s state convention with as many uncertainties as when they arrived.

But if floor demonstrations counted for anything, Maine Senate Pro Tem Michael Michaud of East Millinocket proved he could bring the most people to the Augusta Civic Center for moral support. The question on the minds of Michaud’s five opponents is whether the same crowd will work for the candidate throughout the district as the June 11 primary inches closer.

“You bet they will,” predicted Peter Chandler, Michaud’s campaign manager. “We could have brought 200 more. We’re feeling pretty good about today.”

Speaking to nearly 1,000 delegates attending the two-day convention, Michaud hammered heavily on his blue-collar roots in East Millinocket, which include 28 years on the job at the region’s largest employer, Great Northern Paper Co..

But what seemed to evoke the greatest response from the audience was Michaud’s pledge to back away from voting to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion, should he win his congressional bid. It was an emotional announcement from the candidate, who has long been perceived in the Legislature as a lawmaker with “pro-life” or anti-abortion views. Michaud said those who would label him as “pro-life” were simply not getting the whole story.

“Let me be clear,” he said. “I have voted for what I consider to be reasonable restrictions on abortion like parental notification and a late-term ban. But in Congress, even though I disagree with the court decision, I will not vote for a constitutional amendment to overturn Roe vs. Wade.”

That was exactly the kind of response Lori M. Handrahan of Sorrento had hoped to provoke. The newest firebrand to emerge on the Democratic political landscape, Handrahan opened her address by promising to “shake things up a little bit.” She immediately – jokingly she said – expressed gratitude for being allowed to speak before her Democratic 2nd District opponent, state Sen. John Nutting of Leeds. By going first, she said, Nutting won’t be able to “steal my lines.”

Some of the Democratic delegates weren’t sure whether they should be laughing or not. But before they could figure it out, Handrahan fired off another volley, this time at Michaud. She said she wanted to talk about things that “nobody else wanted to discuss.”

“Like Mike Michaud, who I like and admire very much, but his record on women’s civil rights [is] very disturbing, or how desperate District 2 is economically right now,” she said, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

Nutting spent a good portion of his presentation reminding the delegates of his accomplishments in the Maine Senate, including his co-sponsorship of the state’s low-cost prescription drug program and group health insurance program for uninsured Mainers. He also emphasized his efforts to pump more money into local education for rural school districts.

Tempering his serious message with a trademark humor, the Leeds dairy farmer couldn’t resist the opportunity to poke some fun at himself as he discussed his reputation for being a “tenacious” legislator.

“You’ve all heard the saying, ‘The day’s not done until the cows come home,'” he asked. “I live that saying every day – on the farm for 31 years and as a state legislator.”

Judging from the numerous rounds of cheers and applause, former state Sen. Sean Faircloth of Bangor offered the most energizing speech of the six candidates. Picking up on what may have been perceived as Handrahan’s mildly disapproving references to other candidates, Faircloth singled out his Democratic opponents by name and invited them to work with him to provide a better way of life for Maine citizens.

But what really got Democrats on their feet was Faircloth’s assault on President Bush’s administrative priorities.

“We see a White House that panders to inherited wealth, while 20 percent of our children suffer in poverty,” he said. “We see a White House that attacks a woman’s right to choose, while giving oil companies the right to choose our energy policy. We see a White House that uses Sept. 11 as an excuse to drill in the Arctic. Maine is a small state, but we have had the voices of [Edmund] Muskie and [George] Mitchell. Now is the time for Democrats to speak boldly once again. We need to stand up.”

Capitalizing on his experience as a senior aide in state government and career as a U.S. foreign aid officer in countries such as Cambodia, Haiti, Bosnia and Kosovo, David Costello of Lewiston said his 15 years of public service made him well-qualified to address Maine’s issues in Congress.

“I’m running for Congress because, like you, I value the importance of collective action and responsive government,” he said. “And I want to more directly address our nation’s most pressing problems. Problems related to security, employment, health care, trade, justice and equity.”

Health care was the primary issue for state Sen. Susan W. Longley of Liberty, who has built a strong reputation in the State House as an ardent promoter of programs improving the delivery of health services throughout the state. As the Senate chairwoman of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, Longley said she had authored or co-authored several of the state’s most innovative health care proposals, including the Healthy Maine Prescription Drug Program.

“I strongly support taking healthy Maine models to the national level,” she said. “Let’s expand Medicare to include a prescription drug benefit that, we now know, can be modeled after our Maine Rx law.”

The hourlong presentation by all six candidates left some of the delegates without a clear sense of who the Democratic 2nd Congressional District nominee would be nine days from now.

“If there’s anyone here who thinks they can tell you today how this race is going to turn out, they’re lying to you,” said state Rep. George H. Bunker Jr., of Kossuth Township and a Michaud supporter.

Rep. Joe Clark, a resident of Millinocket in Michaud’s district, said he still hadn’t made up his mind about who would get his vote.

“Faircloth had a rallying speech and Mike gave a dominant speech on labor and other issues,” he said. “But my decision won’t be made until I go to the polls on June 11 and pick someone who I conclude will best support my beliefs and those of the people of the state of Maine.”