Chellie Pingree for Congress

Legitimizing arrogance

2008-06-21T00:59:28Z

Today Maine Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud voted against the FISA bill that the House Leadership endorsed -- a bill that not only gives retroactive immunity to the telecom corporations Verizon, ATT&T and others for illegal wiretapping, but makes it unlikely we will ever even know who were the lawbreakers and who were the victims. I'm proud that our two Democratic Representatives stood up against the powerful telecom lobbies and said no. Maine has tough privacy laws, which is why the Maine Civil Liberties Union helped 22 Mainers take their case to our state's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) demanding to know whether or not Verizon had been letting the Bush Administration tap their phones or read their email. Verizon's response -- that they hadn't engaged in wiretapping as part of a "fishing expedition" -- had a definite non-denial-denial sound to it. When the PUC demanded the company swear to the truthfulness of what they were saying in their press releases, the Bush Administration leapt into the fray, suing the Maine Public Utilities Commission to prevent them from pursuing the matter. It would violate state secrets for these Mainers to know whether their phones were tapped or their email was read, the Administration said. I never thought I'd see the day when the U.S. government could listen in on phone conversations or read private mail without first obtaining a warrant from a court. That sounds more like something that happened in the Soviet Union. But in a double sleight of hand, not only does this new legislation say such unmonitored surveillance of American citizens is permitted, it blocks any opportunity to test the premise in the courts. The Administration says "Nothing to see here folks. We're just keeping you safe. Go on home." And then slams the courtroom doors in our face. Why would the House -- which has the responsibility for enforcing oversight of the administration's activities, and which earlier this year passed a much better bill that didn't immunize the telecoms -- vote to legitimize that arrogant behavior? This action makes it all the more difficult, if not impossible, for any of us to find out the extent of the Administration's illegal spying. (Oh, wait. The new bill says it's not illegal if the President says it's not illegal. That's in there, too.) When Congressmen Tom Allen and Mike Michaud were sworn in, they took this oath: _I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic._ Clearly, they took that oath seriously. I am running for Congress to fill the seat Tom is giving up as he challenges Susan Collins for the Senate. If I am fortunate enough to be elected this fall, I will remember their courage and independence when I take that same oath. Cross-posted at "Turn Maine Blue":http://www.turnmaineblue.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1340, "Open Left":http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=6498, and "Huffington Post":http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chellie-pingree/legitimizing-arrogance_b_108407.html.

Chellie opposes offshore drilling for oil

2008-06-19T17:47:51Z

]]> Chellie was on MPBN "opposing offshore drilling":http://www.mpbn.net/radio/mainenews/080618offshore.htm as well.

It's Pingree vs. Summers

2008-06-11T14:24:21Z

June 11, 2008 _Portland Press Herald_ by Kevin Wack. **Out of a field of six, a clear winner emerges among Democrats.** Chellie Pingree reacts to applause from supporters at the Porthole restaurant in Portland on Tuesday. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer)

Chellie Pingree of North Haven won a six-way race Tuesday for the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. House in Maine's 1st Congressional District. With 57 percent of precincts voting, Pingree, a former Senate majority leader who later served as national chair of Common Cause, had 45 percent of the vote while Adam Cote, a Portland lawyer and Iraq War veteran, had 26 percent. Michael Brennan of Portland was third at 12 percent, followed by Ethan Strimling, a Portland state senator, at 11 percent. York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence and Augusta pediatrician Steve Meister placed a distant fifth and sixth, respectively. "We had five hardworking opponents it's great to be the winner in that field," Pingree said in a speech to supporters at the Porthole restaurant in Portland. The winner in the Democratic primary will face Republican Charlie Summers of Scarborough in the Nov. 4 general election. Summers, a former aide to Sen. Olympia Snowe, defeated Eliot businessman Dean Scontras with 59 percent of the vote. The District 1 seat is being vacated by Democratic Rep. Tom Allen, who is running against GOP Sen. Susan Collins. The early returns showed that Pingree held leads in Cumberland, Knox, Sagadahoc and Kennebec counties, while Cote led in his native York County. Strimling vowed to campaign for Pingree in November. "She will be a great standard-bearer for us," Strimling said. Brennan said that he was proud of the campaign he ran. "We were outspent 5 to 1 by Chellie," he said. "I think we've shown in this campaign that ideas do make a difference." Lawrence, who collected just 5 percent of the vote, said it had been a disappointing night, but said that Pingree would make a great member of Congress. "My view is that Democrats congealed behind one person," Lawrence said, "and I believe that's going to be Chellie Pingree." Five of the six Democratic candidates gathered Tuesday night in Portland, which is near the center of a congressional district that includes much of southern, coastal and central Maine. Pingree, a former U.S. Senate candidate, had declared herself the race's front-runner and raised the most money in the Democratic campaign, collecting $1.36 million, according to the latest finance reports. She was followed by Strimling at $613,000; Cote at $553,000; Lawrence with $445,000; Brennan at $243,000; and Meister with $108,000. Over the course of the race, which began last year, the six candidates raised a total of $3.86 million, according to the latest available totals from the Federal Election Commission. Cote, a Sanford native making his first run for office, spent Tuesday at polling places in Kennebec County before moving to York County in the afternoon. Cote was expected to arrive on Tuesday night at a campaign party in the ballroom of the Eastland Park Hotel in Portland. Strimling greeted supporters on Tuesday evening at Bull Feeney's, a pub in the city's Old Port. Brennan, a former state lawmaker from Portland, spent the day greeting voters in and near his base of support in Portland. Lawrence, the district attorney in York County, spent much of his day greeting voters in his home county, hitting polling places in York, Wells and Kennebunk, and voting near his home in South Berwick. Meister, a Winthrop pediatrician, spent part of his day at polling places in his hometown and in nearby Augusta. The winner of the tightly contested Democratic race will have some built-in advantages going into the general-election campaign. Voter registration totals from earlier this year showed that Democrats outnumbered Republicans in the 1st Congressional District by at least 23,000. In the 2004 presidential election, the district voted for John Kerry over George W. Bush, 55 percent to 43 percent. Staff Writer Elbert Aull contributed to this report. Staff Writer Kevin Wack can be contacted at 791-6365 or at: kwack@pressherald.com "**LINK TO ARTICLE**":http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=193377&ac=PHnws

Summers, Pingree win in 1st District

2008-06-11T13:29:48Z

June 11, 2008 _Bangor Daily News_ by Walter Griffin. Democrat Chellie Pingree and Republican Charles Summers held commanding leads late Tuesday night in the primaries for Maine's 1st Congressional District seat and were headed toward winning their parties' nomination. With 473 of 615 precincts reporting, Pingree had polled 17,643 votes, or 44 percent, on the Democratic side and Summers had tallied 14,610, or 60 percent, on the Republican side. Trailing Pingree were Adam Cote with 10,794 votes, or 27 percent, Michael Brennan with 4,715 votes, Ethan Strimling with 4,511, Mark Lawrence with 1,880 and Dr. Steve Meister with 428. Democrat Chellie Pingree is overwhelmed by her supporters Tuesday night at her headquarters in Portland. Pingree defeated five other Democrats in Maine's 1st Congressional District primary. (AP/Pat Wellenbach)
Trailing Summers on the Republican ballot was Peter C. "Dean" Scontras with 9,801 votes, or 40 percent. Pingree, 53, of North Haven pulled large margins from Cumberland County, where she captured 7,785 votes to Cote's 4,465, and Knox County, where she polled 2,056 votes to Cote's 279. She was leading Lincoln County by 973-270, Kennebec County by 1,142 to 1,113, and Sagadahoc County by 701-221. Cote was winning his home base of York County by 2,271 votes to Pingree's 1,814. Pingree had been considered the favorite in the race since she announced her candidacy last year. She operated businesses on the island for more than two decades, served eight years in the Maine Senate, mounted a hard-fought though unsuccessful run against Sen. Susan Collins in 2002 and most recently served as president and chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C., advocacy group Common Cause. As of the most recent reporting deadline, Pingree had raised more than $1.1 million for her campaign. Newcomer Cote, 35, of Sanford has reported $465,000 in contributions, a number of which came from Republican donors. He was viewed by many as the most moderate candidate among the Democrats. He changed his registration from Democrat to Republican in 2000 to vote for presidential candidate John McCain and changed back last year shortly before filing his nomination papers. Cote, a graduate of Colby College, is a lawyer with the Portland firm Pierce-Atwood and also serves as a staff judge advocate for the Maine Army National Guard. He spent a year serving with the Army in Iraq and was present in the mess hall during a suicide bomb attack that killed and wounded more than 100 soldiers. Brennan, 55, a state senator from Portland, is a social worker and currently works as a policy associate at the Muskie School of Public Service, where he directs projects related to child welfare, mental health and public policy. He also is an adjunct faculty member at the University of New England. Strimling, 40, is a state senator from Portland who gave up his seat to run for Congress. He is a native of New York City and attended the University of Maine. A strong advocate for liberal issues, Strimling has been involved with the Maine People's Alliance and has served as executive director of Portland West for the past decade. Lawrence, 49, of Kittery is district attorney for York County. The son of a Portsmouth Naval Shipyard worker, Lawrence worked his way through Bowdoin College and the University of Maine School of Law as a lobsterman and in local factories. Meister, 53, of Portland, the only physician in the race, received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and has been a staff physician at Maine Medical Center since 1996. Before that, Meister served as a clinical professor at Georgetown University's department of pediatrics in Washington, D.C., and as the head of pediatric care and director of child abuse evaluation at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Calif. He has published a number of papers and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Meister served with the U.S. Marines during the first Gulf War and directed an emergency room at a field hospital at the Kuwait border. On the Republican side, Summers, 48, of Scarborough returned from serving with the Navy in Iraq last month and also had the advantage of being well-known in the district. Summers moved to Maine in 1982 after finishing college in Illinois. He held jobs in the hospitality industry in Bangor and South Portland and ran a small business in Biddeford. He ran successfully for the Maine Senate when he captured a historically Democratic seat representing the Old Orchard-Saco area in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He has worked as an aide to Sen. Olympia Snowe and as New England regional administrator for the Small Business Administration. He has served in the Naval Reserve for the past 13 years. Scontras, 38, an Eliot businessman, grew up in Kittery, where he starred on the local high school football team and played on a partial scholarship for the University of Maine team that contested the national championship. Scontras attended graduate school in Washington, D.C. He worked with various technical companies before moving back to Maine "for the quality of life" and rejoining his extended family in southern Maine. Scontras describes himself as a strong family man and one proud of his Greek heritage. "**LINK TO ARTICLE**":http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=165512&zoneid=164

Thank you.

2008-06-11T05:56:41Z

Dear Friends, Today we have a victory to celebrate, a moment to savor, and then an exciting campaign ahead of us. And I have a lot to be thankful for. Thank you for all you did in this campaign. I am grateful to all of you who volunteered in these weeks and months, to my team, and everyone in the First District who has honored me with their support. I also want to say thank you to my opponents -- Mike Brennan, Adam Cote, Mark Lawrence, Steve Meister, and Ethan Strimling. I know the sacrifices that running for office entails, and I appreciate the commitment, the energy, and the ideas they brought to the race. In the five months ahead, we have a lot of work to do, but I'm looking forward to continuing the campaign with an even larger group of Maine voters. I'm eager to continue this essential conversation about the future of our country, and I hope that one day soon we'll look back and say 2008 was the year we brought real significant change to America, starting with true universal health care; an end to the war in Iraq; and economic, energy, and environmental policies that get our country back on the right track. Again, thank you for joining this campaign and for your support. All my best,

Election Day in Maine

2008-06-10T13:12:06Z

Election Day

2008-06-10T10:37:54Z

Throughout this entire campaign, you've been right there beside me. This is the most important election of our lifetimes, and I am so excited about the change we can make together -- but first, we've got to win this primary! I've got three simple yet important requests for you:

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2. Help Get Out The Vote -- if you have even a little bit of time to give, call 773-0155 to volunteer.

3. Party with us tonight for an Election Night Celebration tonight at 8pm at the Porthole Restaraunt, Customs House Wharf in Portland--food, friends and Election Results. (Click here for directions.)

Thanks again for your support. Our big day is here -- and our big night is just around the corner. We can do this together.

Monday a.m. -- BIW South Gate

2008-06-09T16:34:59Z

Endorsements

2008-06-09T11:33:16Z

You can find the list of public supporters "**here**":http://chelliepingree.com/chellie/endorsements.html or click "read more." Teamsters Local 340 National Women's Political Caucus United Food and Commercial Workers Women's Campaign Forum EMILY's List 21st Century Democrats Feminist Majority PAC Transport Workers Union Women's Political Committee Air Line Pilots Association The United Automobile Workers of America (UAW) League of Conservation Voters League of Young Voters PAC Friends of the Earth Action Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Planned Parenthood Federal PAC Portsmouth Herald The Courier Gazette --- Harold Pachios, Cape Elizabeth Michael Herz and Kate Josephs, Damariscotta Clerk of the House Millie MacFarland, Augusta Bjorn Claeson, Bangor Representative Ted Koffman, Bar Harbor Lucinda Ziesing, Camden Russell DeJong, MD, Belgrade Representative Paulette Beaudoin, Biddeford Thomas Dean, Blue Hill Eleanor Kinney, Bremen Earl Sherwood, Brewer Darcy Halvorsen, South Portland Honorable Marie Laverriere-Boucher, Biddeford Karin Anderson, Portland Congressman Rush Holt, New Jersey Jacob and Terry Gerritsen, Camden Alison Smith, Portland Representative David Miramant, Camden Bonnie Porta, Cape Elizabeth Emily Mitchell, Portland Judith Wohl, Cumberland Center Representative Wendy Pieh, Bremen Elizabeth Mahoney, Cumberland Foreside Angela Adams, Portland Judy Simonds, Cape Elizabeth Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Illinois Honorable Karen Geraghty, Portland Andrew C Twaddle, PhD, East Boothbay George and Sunnie Silverman, Portland Representative Sharon Treat, Hallowell Carol Wishcamper, Freeport Edwin H. Pert, Georgetown Representative Larry Bliss, South Portland Senator Philip Bartlett, Gorham Christine and Henry Ingwersen, Kennebunkport Diane Cowan, Friendship Honorable Elaine Fuller, Manchester Honorable Stephen Simonds, Cape Elizabeth Representative Nancy Smith, Monmouth Mary McPherson and Jon LaVeen, Alna Stephen and Casey Ward, Newcastle House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, North Haven Deborah Deatrick, Peaks Island Representative Leila Percy, Phippsburg Kris Clark, Portland Jesse Connolly and Nicole Clegg, South Portland David Garrity, Portland Doug and Charlene Stone, North Haven School Committee Member Lori Gramlich, Portland Kenneth Spirer, Portland David T Brook, Raymond Deborah Hjort, Richmond Jannine Cash, Rockland Joanne and Will Gray, Port Clyde Honorable Thomas Bull, Freeport Karen Harris, Cape Elizabeth Representative Andrea Boland, Sanford Honorable David Etnier, South Harpswell Representative Lisa Miller, Somerville John and Artis Bernard, South Portland Representative Cynthia Dill, Cape Elizabeth Ann Morrill, South Portland Kendall Morse, Scarborough Elonide and Joe Semmes, South Portland Representative Seth Berry, Bowdoinham Gordon Gates, Kittery Anna B McCoy and Patrick Mundy, Spruce Head Martha Mixon and Mike Roland, Portland Honorable James Skoglund, Saint George Pete Collin, Sunset Cyrus and Patty Hagge, Portland Daryl Hahn, Thomaston Kaighn Smith, Jr., Portland Michael Mayo, Thomaston Representative John Piotti, Unity Allison and Lincoln Paine, Portland Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell, Vassalboro Molly Sholes, West Rockport Lynda Wilson-Dinino, West Kennebunk Representative Janet Mills, Farmington Betsy and Ted Wooster, Waldoboro Honorable Jim Bowers and Carol Sloane, Washington Representative Marilyn Canavan, Waterville Mort and Barbara Mather, Wells Representative Herbert Adams, Portland Marilyn Crocker, West Newfield Nancy Niven, Richmond Warren Cunningham, Winthrop William Harwood, Yarmouth Robert Dunfey, Jr, York Representative Anne Rand, Portland Sharon Abbott, Bridgton County Commissioner Anne Beebe-Center, Rockland Honorable Charlie Mitchell, Portland Holly E. Macomber, Brewer Representative Emily Cain, Orono Becky and Bill Bartovics, North Haven Cindy Lang, Tenants Harbor Heather Shields, Camden Honorable Michael Saxl, Manchester Willy Ritch, Woolwich Representative Donald Soctomah, Indian Township Colin Gulley, North Haven Representative Kimberly Silsby, Augusta Susan Cabot, Portland Andy and Nina Roth-Wells, Georgetown Rozanna Patane, York Harbor Linda Darling, North Haven Carmel Rubin, Bowdoinham Pamela Plumb, Portland Debia McCulloch, Lilburn, GA Lindsay Mann and Susan Miserendino, Brooklyn, NY Elizabeth Rheault, Portland Steven Horowitz, Yarmouth Daniel Crewe, Cumberland Michael Bigos, Auburn Kevin and Jeanne Mattson, Hallowell Representative Edward J. Mazurek, Rockland Ruth and Don Lawson-Stopps, Bath Patricia M Hendrickson, Topsham Jenny Mayher, Bremen Honorable Susan Dorr, Portland Mark A. Govoni, Halifax, MA Representative Patricia Jones, Mount Vernon Toby McGrath, Brunswick Charleen Montz, Topsham Amy Fischer, Camden Elizabeth Ehrenfeld, Falmouth Andrew & Lindsey Cadot, Freeport Honorable Susan Farnsworth, Hallowell Rick Burt, Newcastle Mitch Feeney, Brunswick Lucy Foster Flight, Cape Elizabeth Sean Peter Flaherty, Scarborough Patricia Ramsay, Yarmouth Serena Bartovics, North Haven Steve and Sherry Masters, Phippsburg Garrett Martin, Bremen Virginia Wilder Cross and Don Cross, Gorham Annie Houle, South Portland Jennifer Foley, Bowdoinham Marjolaine Whittlesey, Wiscasset Charles Arnold, Topsham Chuck and Laurie Christman, Bowdoinham Rachael Weyand, Portland Jeffrey Soule Phillips, Portland Jane Hubley, Portland Liz McMahon, Portland Shay L Bellas, South Portland Linda Christie, Bowdoinham John Connors, South Portland Eliza Griscom, Portland Betsy Steen, Bowdoinham Lauralee Raymond, Portland Lara Ashouwak, Bowdoinham Dan and Joan Amory, Portland Jason Mann, Rockland Jenna Burt-Weeks, New Harbor Mark Googins, Cumberland Foreside Nicholas von Hoffman, Tenants Harbor Scott Anderson, Yarmouth Sean Mahoney, Falmouth Christopher Abbott, Washington, DC Adam Lachman, Vinalhaven Robert Skoglund, Saint George Abner Willis, Cape Elizabeth Marya Stark, San Francisco, CA Martin McDonough, Bowdoin Robert Rotberg, Lexington, MA Henry Beck, Waterville Kimberly Ballard, Bath Drew Pritt, Little Rock, AR Leslie Wolfe, Chevy Chase, MD Eve Hadley, Portland William Bolduc, Waterville John Tiedje, Gorham Yvonne Smith, Rockland Deborah Sewall, Hallowell Ramona du Houx, Solon Martha Leggat, North Yarmouth Andrew Michaelson, Portland Diana Coleman, San Francisco, CA John Rosenwald and Ann Arbor, Farmington Louisa Baribeau, North Haven Jack Swanton, Westport Island Brenda Gallant, Wiscasset Douglas Hartley, Cushing Francois Amar, Orono Bo Zabierek, Sherman Brian Hubbell, Bar Harbor Jim & Megan Gerritsen, Bridgewater Michele Woodbury, Trenton Molly Hauck, Kensington, MD Liz Maguire, Portland Mary R Cathcart, Orono Pat Jones, Mount Vernon Chuck Verrill, Islesboro Chris Quint, Biddeford Steve Bien, Jay Violet and Normand Raymond, Winthrop Deborrah Jabar, South Portland Maggie Gardiner, Woolwich Julia Blankertz, Brooklyn, NY Pam Pace, Andover Andrew Stockwell, Somerville Benjamin Collings, Portland Joe Uehlein, Takoma Park, MD Martha White, Rockport Taylor Allen, Rockport Lennie Mullen, Augusta David Grant, Camden Marge Sampson, Portland Jodi Federle, Manchester David Vail, Brunswick Donna Callejon, Garrett Park, MD Douglas Green, Cape Elizabeth Sarah Szwajkos, Rockland Michael Higgins, North Haven Decker Rolph, Boise, ID Karen A. Massey, Yarmouth Honorable Mary Cathcart, Orono Patricia Lewis, Woolwich Mary Jane Wallace, Portland Jean and Jim Matlack, Rockport Constance & William Kantar, Harrison Mary Drury, Bar Harbor Steve Crate, Waterville Caroline Walker, Jefferson James O'Haverty, Hope William Creighton, Freeport Louis Carrier, North Haven Pamela Elliott, Camden Chessie Thacher, New York, NY Donna Parson, NYC, NY Judy Kany, Tucson, AZ Carla Bryson, Portland Lisa Walker, S. Portland Julia Kahrl, Arrowsic Leslie Hyde, Yarmouth Joan & Phil Gulley, Sewickley, PA Louise Bennett, So Portland Terry Burrows, West Kennebunk David Hopkins, North Haven Steve Burke, Warren David Wilson, New York, NY Leah Sprague, Newcastle Brennen Pingree, Kittery Point Rani Sheaffer, Hallowell Joshua Glover, South Thomaston Norm Rodrigue, Manchester Shaunagh Robbins, Honolulu, HI Bambi Jones, Whitefield Paul Diamond, Rockport Regine Routier Whittlesey, Bowdoinham Kate Simmons, Camden Ed Dietrich, Rockport Barbara Raths, Portland Kathleen Brandes, Spruce Head Doug Milton, South Thomaston John Ersek, Gorham Henry Lanford, Bangor Kathy Garrard, Gorham Philip Lee, South Portland Pen Williamson, Warren Don & Jean Morrison, Camden Lee Dennett, Castine Kristin Aiello, Hallowell Margo Simmons, Falmouth Diana Scully, Hallowell Elisabeth Goodridge, Appleton Lydia Brown, North Haven Darrilyn Peters, Charlotte, VT Peter Ralston, Rockport Mary-Erin Casale, Washington, DC Greg LeRoy, Bethesda, MD Stephanie Hastings, Fryeburg Shirley Mattson, Verona Island, Karen Cabot, Portland Frank Durgin, Cape Elizabeth Peter Conant, Appleton Ted Lamont, Syosset, NY Sean Kerwin, Rockland Jonathan Nash, New York, NY Daniele Dupuis, Paris, France Wayne Myers, Waldoboro Beverly Stearns, Portland Bill Hetzel, Kennebunk Peter and Jan Wilk, Sebago Philip McKean PhD, Cushing Jane and Jim Lester, Knoxville, TN Elsie Flemings, Bar Harbor Roland Rhoades, Gorham Dan Kravitz, Harpswell Anne L. Welles, Southwest Harbor Kathryn Wolfe, Union John Steiner, Longmont, CO State Representative Rob Eaton, Sullivan Elaine Fuller, Manchester Sandra Johnson, Bath Kathy Coleman, Dresden (Dorothy) Lee Berry, Sumner Rick Gowen, Saco Michael McGuire, Owls Head Alicia Fagan, JD, MPA, RN, Portland Diana Rigg, Camden Elizabeth McPherson, Damariscotta Brownie Carson, Brunswick Beth George and Tim Kane, Scarborough Carol Kelly, Portland Chrisso Rheault, New Gloucester Peter Mills, Cumberland Foreside Amy Davidoff, Kennebunk Lance Lee, Rockland Laurie V. Adams, Camden Robert Mahaffey, Martinsburg, WV Bruce Erwin Johnson, Portland Richard Cohen, Cape Elizabeth Beth Henderson, Belfast Jon Emerson, North Haven John Reigeluth, Kennebunkport Karin Roland, Portland Mercedes M. Marino, Cape Elizabeth Ellen Dumas, Saco Jennifer DeChant, Bath Amy and Spike Haible, Harpswell Dick Miller, Tenants Harbor Eleanor LeCain, Washington, DC LeClair Bissell, MD, Sanibel, FL Ellin Ruffner, Yarmouth Patt Derian, Islesboro Walter Baily, Parsonfield Rep. Carol Grose, Woolwich Ellen F Toomey, Harpswell Ed Saxby, Cape Elizabeth John Lee, Garland, TX James Oates, Belmont Joyce McKenney, Richmond Jen Porter, North Haven Dana Graham, Augusta Shay Ayres, Saco Diana Beach, Thomaston Cynthia Dalton, Alna Kenneth Brinnick, New Gloucester Katharine Lynn, Scarborough Peter Haughwout, Brunswick Beverly Evans Messer, Belfast Cathy Dillon-McHugh, Cape Elizabeth Joan Bromage, Mount Desert Spencer M. Hurtt,Jr., Tenants Harbor Barbara Pitman, Rockland Linda Murnik, Portland Honorable Rosita Friel, Buckfield Carol Williams, Southwest Harbor Rowland Whittet, West Rockport Joan Welsh, Rockport Cherie Mason, Sunset Daphne L. Stern, Bristol Gloria Krellman, Woolwich Callie and Noah Davisson, North Haven Anita Strods Dore, Portland William Sweeney, Harpswell Abe Baggins, Camden Evelyn deFrees, Searsmont Patti Berg Anderson, Arundel Esperanza and Andrew Stancioff, Camden Arthur Mayo, Bath Gerald Weinand, Rockland Philippe Villers, Concord, MA David Schurman, Portland Jean English, Lincolnville Carol Lichtenberg-Browne, Richmond Captain Ed Glaser, Rockland Kathy and Steve Cartwright, Waldoboro Nancy Tucker, Brunswick Harvey Ardman, Rockport Kathy Lauder, Hermitage, TN Kenneth Mason, Sunset Eleanor Smith, Portland Alix Hopkins, Pownal Kelly Irwin, Portland Richard and Virginia Townsend, Fairfield Robert Woodbury, Harpswell Claudia Hughes, South Portland Ralph Siewers, Sedgwick David & Elizabeth Margolis-Pineo, Portland Dave Murray, Buxton Donald Robinson, Mt. Desert Ann Bex, Camden Isabel Denham, Yarmouth Kaiulani Wharton, Brunswick Kathleen Goodwin, Brunswick Robert R. Sherman, Gainesville, FL Stephen Barr MD, North Yarmouth Dorothy Many, Belfast Roger Hare, South Portland Bob Tripler, Cape Elizabeth Barbara Ann Johnson, Nobleboro Anne and Seaver Leslie, Wiscasset Lindsay Hancock, Gray Marion Bowman, Topsham Elsebeth Tripler, Cape Elizabeth Joseph F. McHugh, Cape Elizabeth Bo Yerxa, Waldoboro Jim Braddick, Brunswick Aimee Bessire, Portland Kimberly Simmons, Cumberland Paule French, Portland Joan Beskenis, Kittery Point Beedy Parker, Camden James and Ruth Yerkes, Surry Don Means, Bristol Karen Povec, Camden Wendy Noyes, Baltimore, MD Thomas Finlay, East Machias A. Landis Hudson, Yarmouth Michael Landgarten, Eliot Gail Drobnyk, Kittery David Adams, Yarmouth Margaret Downing, Yarmouth Susan Metters, Portland Diane Schetky, Rockport Priscilla Fales, Cambridge, MA David Stein, Newton, MA Helen C. Evarts, New York, NY Mitch Kihn, Warren David Whittlesey, Bowdoinham Ann Nye, Freeport Cecilia M. Miller, Saint Petersburg, FL Peter Ainsworth, South Freeport Dick and Sara Porter, Topsham Edward and Jackie Robinson, Cape Elizabeth Mary Rose Curtis, Bethesda, MD Dr. and Mrs. Barry W. Levine, Boston, MACecil Sybil Baker, Hallowell John Crocker, Providence, RI Philip Conkling, Camden Helen Greene, Brunswick Cornelia Robinson, Falmouth Dan Meyer, Readfield Honorable Benjamin Dudley, Portland Carolyn Wollen, Portland Honorable Judy Kany, Belgrade Lakes Anita Brosius-Scott, Camden Zem Joaquin, Corte Madera, CA Minnie Carson, Little Rock, AR Margaret Lewis, St. James, NY Donna Damon, Chebeague Island Douglas Hall, Portland Carol Waterman, North Haven Douglas Milton, South Thomaston Nancy Wright, Norridgewock Charmarie Blaisdell, Tenants Harbor Leah Neuchiller, Portland Craig Cooper, Cape Elizabeth Bill Boardman, Islesboro Dirk Faegre, Camden Christopher Bryan, P.E., Waterville Rep. Christopher Barstow, Gorham Carla Ferguson, Camden Debra Smith, New Gloucester Jane Sanford, Belfast Sue Hartman, Cumberland Center Asher Platts, Gorham Bonnie Blythe and Daniel Heakin, Portland Michael Wilson, Old Orchard Beach Sue Ferra, Tenants Harbor Mary Wheelwright, Camden Clare Brown Gosselin, Sabattus Stuart and Marianne Smith, Camden Rhonda Nordstrom, Rockland Des FitzGerald, Camden Anne Beebe-Center, Rockland Jennifer Judd-McGee, Portland Jan Begert, Bowdoinham Rodney Lahren, Fort Kent David Mahan, Islesboro Michael Belliveau, Old Town Joe Mountain, Ft. Pierce, FL Juliet Lamont, Berkeley, CA John Thron, Portland Matthew Spencer, Washington, DC Deane Rykerson, Kittery Point Deborah Kreis, Sanford Jody and Bill Cowan, Thomaston Carrie Adams, Thomaston Charles Wynott, Westbrook Stephen Joffe, Gorham Wayne Hollingworth, Freeport Patti Mikkelsen, New Gloucester Peggy Akers, Portland Abby Stocks, Camden Francis White, Portland Honorable Elizabeth Watson, Portland Paula Clay, Portland Joseph Saint, Portland Carol Simpson, Moody Sharon L Rosen, Portland John Newton, Portland Irene Honey, Portland Herbert Parsons, North Haven Joan Jenness, Bridgton Mary Hubka, Bridgton Jim Krainin, Naples Margo Clarke, Falmouth Allison Wells, Gardiner Jeff Wells, Gardiner Heather Anderson, Minneapolis, MN Connie Hansen, Anselmo, NE Tony Lachman, Vinalhaven Davene Fahy, Thomaston Fred Hahn, Topsham Jaylene Summers, Kennebunkport Diana Levin, Freeport Toby and Hattie Simon, Old Orchard Beach Erin Creelman, Vinalhaven Edward Pearlman, South Portland David Sinclair, Bath Patricia Hendrickson, Topsham Sally and Don Merchant, Spruce Head Alexandra Fogel, Rockport Larry Rockefeller, New York, NY Mary Holt, Chebeague Island Barbara Burt, Newcastle Spencer Hurtt, Tenants Harbor Sherry Miller Welch, Falmouth David Wiggin, Rockport Katrina Van Dusen, Freeport Ann Marie Maguire, Swan's Island Stephen Crate, Waterville Stuart Jones, South Freeport Victoria Devlin, South Freeport Linda Sanborn, Gorham Michael Fagan, Slidell, LA Christine and Warren Bartlett, Manchester Everett Perlman, Portland Former State Senator Charlotte Pritt (D-W.Va.), Charleston, WV M. B. Dolan, Tenants Harbor Dawn Levy, Minneapolis, MN DJ Francis, Chicago, IL Robert Knight, Blue Hill Patricia Karush, Vassalboro Marthena Webster, Vinalhaven Carol Ross, Portland Jeanne S. Mayer, Washington, DC Rich Entel, Vinalhaven Lyn Mikel Brown, Waterville Sam May, Hong Kong Erin McGuire, Portland Jeanne Mullen, Portland Jo Dondis, Studio City, CA Arn Pearson, Camden Helen Price-Wharff, FNP, Lewiston Shane Artsy, New Smyrna Beach, FL Louise Zubrod, Portland Christopher Campbell, Portland Ainsley Newman Wallace, Portland Nat May, Portland Amy Jensen, Westbrook Logan Leavitt, Portland

A Bath Iron Works start to the day!

2008-06-09T10:45:25Z

6:00 a.m. -- [posted by Jackie] We met Charlie Finn and Bill Gilson, long time union activists, at BIW at the south gate this morning at 6:00! Chellie, my son Dan, who drove, and I enjoyed the gorgeous morning scenery on the ride up to Bath. We made a quick stop for coffee in Brunswick to ensure we were all awake. Willy joined us and we all greeted the hundreds of BIW employees on morning shift as they streamed into the Yard. I have done this stop many times in the past. This visit, I was particularly pleased to see the warmth and enthusiasm with which workers greeted Chellie. They reached out for the pamphlets, and 500 pieces disappeared quickly. They sought her out, veering from their routine path to say "hello," "good luck," or "I've already voted for you!" Many people stopped to talk with Chellie about the high cost of gas, some expressing concern about next winter. It was a terrific way to jump start the next-to-last day of campaigning.

Sunday a.m. -- busy headquarters

2008-06-08T16:25:24Z

Sunday a.m. -- So. Portland is bustling

2008-06-08T16:00:36Z

Phones are ringing all over the county

2008-06-08T01:11:26Z

8:30 P.M. -- I just got home from delivering my last set of call sheets to volunteers. In this final weekend before the primary, like everyone in the campaign, I've added extra tasks to my regular job of online communications director -- in my case, organizing GOTV for Lincoln County. I blanched when I first heard how many phone calls we needed to make but today I delivered call sheets to an amazing 50 or so volunteers from all parts of Lincoln County. As I drove home, I thought about how volunteering on a campaign builds a community. Today, as I met with these supporters in coffee shops, church parking lots, in their backyards, in their shops, and at their back doors, I heard about what motivated them to spend some of their precious weekend making phone calls for Chellie. Here's a sampling: S., a physical therapist who is worried about the healthcare system and believes that Chellie will make a difference; C., an aquaculturist (is that a real term?) who once lobbied Chellie when she was a state senator and was thrilled to find a legislator who really understood fishing issues; J., a former teacher who admires Chellie's intelligent and thoughtful approach to issues; D., a longtime Democratic activist who believes that Chellie can attain the stature of a George Mitchell or Margaret Chase Smith; K., who's been active trying to get locally grown foods into school systems and likes the fact that Chellie was an organic farmer; and B., a college administrator who trusts Chellie to stick with her progressive values. I'd love to get all these people together and introduce them to one another. They are from different parts of the county and different walks of life, yet they share an attitude -- "change starts with me" -- and a conviction that Chellie Pingree is the best person to carry that change out in Washington.

Classic Maine campaign stop

2008-06-07T23:41:53Z

3:00 P.M. -- Now here's a classic campaign stop: the Freeport dump, with my son Asa, daughter Cecily, and Wayne Hollingworth. In Freeport, which is usually full of tourists and shoppers from all over the world, people are worried that the high price of gas may have a chilling effect on the tourist season, "The trains can't get up here soon enough," someone said to me. High energy prices = buy local. A number of people took campaign signs and buttons home and a surprising number of them said they had already voted for me. Maine's no-excuse absentee and early voting rules make voting a lot more convenient for many people, and contribute to Maine's record of high voter turnout.

OOB with Bill

2008-06-07T23:39:01Z

1:00 P.M. -- We met up with Bill Bickford in Old Orchard Beach, walking Main Street and talking to all the people who worked in all of those businesses, including some who took a campaign sign to put in their windows. It was nice to drop into Hogan's Variety to visit with State Rep. George Hogan and his wife at their store. In Old Orchard a few people seemed to think that the season was getting off to a slow start but were hopefully looking forward to business picking up after school gets out.