AUGUSTA – U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe picked up a re-election endorsement Monday from the Bangor Daily News, which praised the Republican’s willingness to work across the political aisle to pass critical legislation.

“A vote for Olympia Snowe on Nov. 7 is a vote for Maine’s tradition of moderation and common-sense approach to complex issues,” the BDN said.

The editorial also said that Snowe’s challengers, Democrat Jean Hay Bright and independent William Slavick, “being at the far left end of the political spectrum, would have difficulty” working with the opposing party on important issues such as health care, energy and Iraq.

The Rockland Courier Gazette cited Hay Bright’s opposition to the war in Iraq in endorsing her in Friday’s edition. The paper publishes three days a week.

The latest round of endorsements came in the midst of a busy week of debates. Hay Bright criticized Snowe’s votes for the Iraq war resolution and the military tribunal bill during a debate Sunday night at Colby College in Waterville, saying the senator is toeing the GOP line.

Snowe responded that she has challenged the policies of the Bush administration on several issues, including the war.

“I have said that ‘staying the course’ is neither an option nor a plan,” Snowe said.

Slavick said it’s been known for more than a year that the war was lost, adding, “Everybody wants us out.”

The three Senate candidates are scheduled to meet again Wednesday in a debate televised by Maine Public Broadcasting. A debate moderated by WCSH-TV is scheduled for Thursday night.

Meanwhile, in Maine’s 2nd District congressional contest, the Kennebec Journal of Augusta and Morning Sentinel of Waterville on Monday endorsed Democratic Rep. Michael Michaud for re-election, based on the two-term congressman’s experience and his views on issues such as the war in Iraq.

Michaud has called America’s entry into the Iraq war a mistake. He faces Republican Scott D’Amboise, a political newcomer, in the race.