The general election is still more than nine months away, but the combined fundraising total for the candidates running for Susan Collins’ U.S. Senate seat already is closing in on the record set six years ago. The Collins campaign and that of her chief rival,… Read More
AUGUSTA – Sen. John McCain will enjoy a bump in Maine’s Republican caucuses this weekend thanks to his win in Florida, political observers said Wednesday as an Associated Press tally gave the Arizona senator the largest share of the delegates won so far. Maine’s GOP… Read More
AUGUSTA – Maine Republicans were moving closer Tuesday to their goal of having party members from 80 percent of the state’s towns participate in this weekend’s presidential preference caucuses. Party Executive Director Julie O’Brien said GOP activists in at least 372 towns have reported that… Read More
AUGUSTA – Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said Monday he is hoping for “a grand showing” in this weekend’s Maine Republican caucuses. Stopping at the State House on a brief visit to the state, Paul was cheered enthusiastically by supporters throughout a rally that drew… Read More
BANGOR – The presidential race is now visibly under way in downtown Bangor, where Republican candidate Ron Paul has opened a headquarters office at 91 Main St. Amid red, white and blue balloons and signboards, the Paul campaign held an open house Monday night. About… Read More
PORTLAND – U.S. Rep. Tom Allen faces opposition from an educator from Sanford in his bid to become the Democratic nominee challenging Republican incumbent Susan Collins in the U.S. Senate election. Tom Ledue, an administrator at Noble High School in North Berwick, said he filed… Read More
PITTSFIELD – The Central Maine Progressive Women’s Group will host an evening of discussion with Diana Allen, wife of U.S. Rep. Tom Allen. Allen, a Portland Democrat, is running for the U.S. Senate. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
ORONO – The Green Party’s 2004 presidential candidate, David Cobb, will make appearances Feb. 10 and 11 at the University of Maine. Cobb and Shannon Tracey, both on the staff of Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County, Calif., will run an all-day workshop Feb. 10 titled… Read More
A Damariscotta couple was among the Mainers who crossed the New Hampshire border to volunteer for the presidential candidates of their choice in the hours leading up to Tuesday’s primary. Kate Josephs and Mike Herz spent the final two days leading up to the vote… Read More
Not since 1960 has religion become more of an issue in a presidential campaign than now, first with the discussion of Gov. Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith and then with the focus on Gov. Michael Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister, as he emerged as the front-runner and then the… Read More
AUGUSTA – Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain won endorsements of their presidential candidacies Sunday from the Maine Sunday Telegram. The Portland-based newspaper, a part of the Blethen Maine Newspapers group, said in an editorial that “the possibilities of an Obama presidency, not the… Read More
Although they each hold ranking positions for rival Democratic presidential candidates and have been intensely focused on the Iowa caucuses for months, Maine friends Jess Knox and Emmett Beliveau still manage to find time on the campaign trail to hang out and swap stories. “We’ve… Read More
AUGUSTA – Maine’s presidential caucuses fall in the shadow of neighboring New Hampshire’s primary and the nation’s other marquee presidential preference events. But both major parties’ officials are hopeful that the races will remain competitive enough to draw some attention to Maine, and they’re pushing… Read More
PORTLAND – In 2006, Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine campaigned for Connecticut colleague Joseph Lieberman, the former Democrat who won re-election as an independent after losing his party’s primary. Now, as Collins faces what many see as a tough re-election challenge from Democrat… Read More
PORTLAND – The leader of the Maine National Guard is throwing his support behind Democrat Adam Cote in the 1st District congressional race. Maj. Gen. Bill Libby, commander of the Maine National Guard, made his endorsement in a letter written to veterans groups this week. Read More
WASHINGTON – The next 100 days on the presidential campaign trail promise a whirlwind of back-to-back debates, numerous appearances around the country – and, oh yes, primaries and caucuses slated to begin Jan. 3 in Iowa. The jampacked schedule is certain to make the busy… Read More
PORTLAND – With the Democratic primary election seven months away, candidates for the 1st Congressional District are preparing to square off for the first debate of the campaign. The forum will be hosted by the University of New England’s School of Social Work graduate program… Read More
PORTLAND – Sen. Susan Collins held a 20-point lead over Rep. Tom Allen in the 2008 Senate race, while candidates vying for Allen’s congressional seat showed little success in distinguishing themselves in the minds of voters, according to a poll released Friday. The Critical Insights… Read More
WASHINGTON – Sen. Susan Collins has received more money from her congressional colleagues than any other member of Congress, and Rep. Tom Allen has received more money from out of state than any other House member. Collins, a Republican, and Allen, a Democrat, are pitted… Read More
AUGUSTA – A union claiming 10,000 members is backing Democratic Rep. Tom Allen in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The announcement Tuesday by the Maine State Employees Association, Local 1989 of the Service Employees International Union, cited the six-term 1st District congressman’s… Read More
AUGUSTA – Fundraising front-runner Chellie Pingree built on her financial lead in the race for the Democratic nomination in Maine’s 1st Congressional District in the latest quarter, reaching a level of $474,000 last month for her campaign to date, according to a disclosure statement released Monday. Read More
SOUTH PORTLAND – Rudy Giuliani vowed Monday to crack down on illegal immigration and terrorist activities if elected president by using a model that was developed to cut crime when he was mayor of New York City. He also decried Columbia University for giving a forum to Iranian… Read More
Susan Collins pledged to serve just two terms in the Senate, and a state Democratic Party official wants to hold her to that promise. Collins, a Republican, was elected in 1996 to a six-year term, re-elected in 2002, and is seeking a third term on… Read More
Rep. Tom Allen, who is seeking to unseat incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in the 2008 election, has received nearly $250,000 in campaign funds generated by the liberal Web site MoveOn.Org. MoveOn, a political action group, was lambasted last week by senators of both parties for… Read More
BANGOR – Two editors at the Bangor Daily News with close ties to candidates vying for a U.S. Senate seat in the 2008 election have recused themselves from dealing with any aspect of the paper’s coverage of the campaign for the duration of the race. Read More
AUGUSTA – Democrat Tom Allen’s Senate campaign said Friday a $1,000 contribution from disgraced Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu had been returned. Allen campaign spokeswoman Carol Andrews said the money was returned “as soon as the story broke” last week. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
WASHINGTON – Using images of children in combat camouflage, a coalition of anti-war groups is airing about $500,000 in ads against Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and three other GOP senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, who are facing re-election next year, urging them to “bring our troops… Read More
AUGUSTA – One of the lesser known entrants in the crowded field seeking the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District is touting an endorsement from a veterans group that has been active nationwide. Adam Cote, a Portland lawyer whose resume includes serving with the… Read More
ORONO – Roughly 75 people gathered in a University of Maine lecture hall Tuesday evening as part of a national campaign to pressure Congress to end the war in Iraq. The “Take a Stand” forum was organized by a coalition of groups operating under the… Read More
Collins, Allen race wades into Web Blogging resources, cybersites part of Internet campaign strategy
Almost 50 years after the famous Kennedy-Nixon TV debate opened a new arena for political campaigns, candidates like Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Tom Allen are learning they need to be savvy about a new, vastly different medium – the Internet. The Internet is remaking… Read More
LAMOINE – U.S. Rep. Tom Allen told a crowd of more than 100 state party supporters Saturday that his campaign to dethrone incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins is a moment of great opportunity for the Democratic party. “There are only a handful of places where… Read More
AUGUSTA – As Democrats, Republicans and other hopefuls prepare for next year’s legislative elections, overseers of Maine’s Clean Election treasury have decided to cap basic public funding payments for eligible participants in the 2008 campaign cycle at 2006 levels. This month’s action by the state… Read More
PORTLAND – With the Democratic primary for the 1st District congressional seat more than a year away, the four declared Democratic candidates already have raised about $580,000 for their campaigns. But the two candidates in a closely watched race for one of Maine’s U.S. Senate… Read More
WASHINGTON – Election Day is more than a year away, but Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is facing a barrage of attack ads, protesters at her local offices and a strong Democratic challenger. It’s a far different environment from her last race for re-election,… Read More
PORTLAND – With the Democratic primary for the 1st District congressional seat more than a year away, the four declared Democratic candidates already have raised about $580,000 for their campaigns. But the two candidates in a closely watched race for one of Maine’s U.S. Senate… Read More
The 2008 election face-off between Republican Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Tom Allen for the U.S. Senate seat is 16 months away, but the money race is well under way, and Collins holds the lead. Already, the campaign is shaping up to be the most… Read More
ELIOT – A businessman from Eliot announced Thursday that he is entering the 2008 race to be the Republican candidate for Maine’s 1st District congressional seat. Dean Scontras, 37, becomes the second Republican to file for the seat being vacated by six-term Democrat Tom Allen,… Read More
AUGUSTA – Looking to stir up excitement and lure presidential hopefuls to the state, leaders of the Maine Democratic Party are thinking about holding a presidential straw poll in early fall. “We are very seriously considering it,” Democratic Party Chairman Ben Dudley said Monday. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
AUGUSTA – Recently resigned federal Small Business Administration regional chief Charles Summers of Scarborough has launched a bid for Congress and will be depending on his wife to act as his surrogate after he reports for active duty in the military next month. A former… Read More
PORTLAND – Former state Sen. Chellie Pingree kicked off her campaign Friday for the congressional seat being vacated by fellow Democrat Tom Allen, who is in his sixth term in the U.S. House. Pingree, of North Haven, stepped down as president of Common Cause, the… Read More
PORTLAND – Democratic Senate hopeful Tom Allen wrapped up a four-day swing through Maine’s 2nd Congressional District by returning to familiar territory on Wednesday as he rallied supporters at his campaign headquarters in his hometown. The congressman who hopes to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins… Read More
PORTLAND – Ethan Strimling is using his connections to the TV mob drama “The Sopranos” as he explores whether to run for Congress next year. The state senator from Portland is enlisting the help of actor Matt Servitto, who plays FBI Agent Dwight Harris on… Read More
AUGUSTA – A state Senate member from Portland on Sunday edged into the 2008 1st District congressional race as a fifth Democratic entrant. Ethan Strimling is poised to run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, who is challenging Republican Sen. Susan… Read More
SANFORD – A Portland lawyer on Friday became the fourth Democrat to throw his hat into the ring for the 2008 1st District congressional race. Adam Cote, 34, will run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, who is running to unseat… Read More
KITTERY – Mark Lawrence, a former state Senate president now serving as York County district attorney, announced Wednesday he has filed papers to run for the congressional seat being vacated by fellow Democrat Tom Allen. Lawrence became the third Democrat from the 1st District to… Read More
PORTLAND – Democratic Rep. Tom Allen filed papers Tuesday formalizing his challenge to two-term Sen. Susan Collins, a race shaping up as one of a handful likely to draw the national spotlight in 2008. Allen sought to cast the election as a referendum on the… Read More
PORTLAND – Within minutes of Democratic Rep. Tom Allen’s announcement that he’s running for the Senate, the first of several Democrats waiting in the wings to try to fill his empty seat announced he was ready to run. Michael Brennan of Portland, former Democratic leader… Read More
PORTLAND – U.S. Rep. Tom Allen has yet to announce his challenge to Sen. Susan Collins, but the race is already shaping up as one of a handful likely to draw the national spotlight in 2008. The contest, which already has given rise to a… Read More
PORTLAND – Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, raised $832,075 in the first quarter of the year, raising the amount of cash available to her re-election campaign to $1.2 million, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission. Collins, who’s seeking a third term, reported… Read More
BANGOR – U.S. Rep. Tom Allen was in town Friday morning visiting the Challenger Learning Center for the first time, and later stopped at the University of Maine to reacquaint himself with its programs. Although the trip took the Democratic 1st District congressman beyond his… Read More
PORTLAND – Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman said he is endorsing Sen. Susan Collins in her 2008 re-election bid and will campaign on her behalf. Lieberman, a former Democrat turned independent, is returning the favor to Collins, a Republican who supported and campaigned for him in… Read More
PORTLAND – Former Maine state Sen. Chellie Pingree has filed with the Federal Elections Commission to launch a campaign for Maine’s 1st District congressional seat, which is now occupied by fellow Democrat Tom Allen. Allen, of Portland, has signaled he’s ready to run against Republican… Read More
AUGUSTA – The Republican State Committee on Saturday scheduled the party’s 2008 caucuses for next February that help choose the next Republican presidential nominee. The caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 1, 2 and 3, said Joe Bruno, chairman of the Maine Republican Party. googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A longtime art teacher who now describes himself as a “professional futurist and social architect” celebrated his 70th birthday Friday by announcing his write-in candidacy for president while impersonating Thomas Jefferson. August “Gus” Jaccaci of New Gloucester, Maine, kicked off his campaign… Read More
U.S. Sen. John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee announced Tuesday that former Maine Gov. John R. McKernan Jr. (photo) will support the Arizona senator should he decide to seek the presidency. “John McCain has a special and invaluable ability to rally popular support around the principled position,” said McKernan. Read More
WASHINGTON – Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Democratic Rep. Tom Allen left money trails in the last election that point toward a possible face-off in the 2008 race for Senate, campaign analysts said. Collins plans to run for a third term in the Senate, said… Read More
AUGUSTA – Way back when, this was something Susan Collins said she wouldn’t do. And after all these years, Tom Allen looks ready to do something some thought he never would. All of which leaves a large cast waiting in the wings, poised to do whatever. Read More
AUGUSTA – The Democratic State Committee has set Feb. 10 as the date for the party’s 2008 municipal caucuses that will help choose the next Democratic presidential nominee. The Feb. 10 date was the first Sunday in the time window set by the Democratic National… Read More
PORTLAND – Former state Senate Majority Leader Michael Brennan, D-Portland, has announced he is considering a bid for the 1st Congressional District seat now held by Democrat Tom Allen. Brennan is banking on Allen leaving his seat after six terms to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Read More