Posted on 07/01/2013 6:40:09 PM PDT by campaignPete R-CT
Democratic Rep. Michael H. Michaud’s Thursday announcement that he is exploring a run for governor in Maine could spark crowded primaries for his competitive 2nd District.
Michaud has won that district with comfortable margins for six terms, but his seat could be competitive if he launches a gubernatorial bid. President Barack Obama won it with 53 percent last year.
“This obviously becomes a nationally targeted race if Michaud runs for governor,” said Erik Potholm, a Republican consultant who has worked extensively in Maine politics. “For Republicans, it’s a tremendous opportunity to pick up a new seat, because the … rural areas [located in the district] do really well for Republicans.”
Local and national Republican operatives rattled off several potential GOP candidates who could run in the 2nd District.
* State Sen. Garrett Mason, who is one of the youngest members in his chamber.
* Assistant state House Minority Leader Alex Willette. At 24 years old, he is the youngest lawmaker to serve in that role.
* State House Minority Leader Ken Fredette. He represents a district located south of Bangor, one of the biggest cities in the 2nd District.
* Former House Minority Leader Josh Tardy. He left the state House due to term limits in 2010, but he has been widely rumored to be running for the seat.
* Former state Sen. Kevin Raye. In 2012, he unsuccessfully challenged Michaud and lost by double digits.
* Former state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin. He finished second in the open GOP primary for Senate last year.
Maine Democrats also expect a crowded field. Democratic consultant Dennis Bailey joked that operatives are “better off finding who doesn’t want to run” for Michaud’s seat.
Local and national Democrats mentioned the following as potential candidates:
* Assistant state House Majority Whip Jeff McCabe. Operatives described McCabe as a popular state legislator who has been re-elected in a conservative district. * State Sen. Emily Cain, whom local Democratic consultants described as “all-in” in the race. * State Attorney General Janet Mills. Her brother is a Republican who served in the Maine Senate and ran two unsuccessful bids for governor in 2006 and 2010. * State Sen. Troy Jackson, who represents the more of northern area in the state. * Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap. He attempted to run for the open Senate seat in 2012, but he lost in a primary to state Sen. Cynthia Dill. * Attorney Joe Baldacci. His brother, John Baldacci, served as governor of Maine for two terms
Willette and Mason are young, serious pro-lifers.
Raye is NOT the conservative choice.
Fredette, never shown interest in pro-life issues.
Bruce Poliquin is a party insider, but generally conservataive.
Do I have it right?
http://www.mainerighttolife.com/pdf/mrlc-2010-voter-guide.pdf
pro-life voter guide for the Maine state house members, etc.
Willette seems intriguing. We elect senile buffoons, why not someone young ?
I’d recommend Mason. Mainites are a little eccentric with their voting so running this guy, who looks young enough to still be in high school might be refreshing if the Dems run an old bull.
Just one more seat we can take from Piglosi. I can’t wait to see her breakdown when she fails to win the House... again.
DJ, fastest draw in the west (west of the appalachians) 6 minutes
ping for Maine open seat. Maybe open.
What difference does it make who runs? They will elect a RINO or a Rat anyway.
TN Tyrant, don’t get defeatist on our MAINE thread FOR pro-life hope!
state of Maine pro-life opportunity ping.
northern Maine is the bible belt of New England ... with a large French population mixed in. (and Liberals too)
Unless she’s about 100 times dumber than I think she is she has no expectation to win the House in Obama’s 6th year midterm which is pretty much an impossibly.
Michaud announced a couple weeks ago.
There is no maybe about it being open, unless he changes his mind and quits like he did the Senate race last year.
But since Angus King isn’t gonna jump into this race I think we’re good.
The Federal Government has bought the new population of Maine with benefits. We also are one of the very poorest states in the Union. It ain't all Ogunquit.
To top it off, in some places, we are swarming with illegal aliens. In others, Somali "refugees" who were put here by the government and Catholic Charities (!) precisely because of the benefits.
The stern-jawed New England Down East independent of days of yore is a very endangered rare species. Just witness the collection of hopeless RINOs and Left-Wing lulus we send to Washington and who infest the state government.
IOW, ME is turning into CT. Just far fewer people. But immigration from MAssholia is growing, and you know those people from away can't wait to make this a completely failed state, just like the one they think they are escaping.
well, here’s a chance to have an election without York and Cumberland.
I was at the Dover-Foxcroft GOP county caucus Feb’12. Less than half the folks there were city slickers.
I think you have a ways to go before ME-2 is Connecticut.
And among that list of GOP Patriots, which ones were man enough to serve in uniform?
Mason is an interesting guy. They left his military service off his biography on Wikipedia though. Surely somebody who was 19 when the planes went into the buildings and watched as young women his aged deploy into combat did some military service and saw combat himself? Surely?
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