With the PolitickerME.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Maine's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerME.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Maine's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Whitman: GOP candidates should be willing to reach across the aisle

Former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman said Thursday that Republicans do have an obstacle to overcome this election year resulting from negative views of the Bush administration.

To overcome this perception, she said, Republican candidates must focus on their messaging to prove to voters that they can work across the aisle and show they can reflect their constituents’ values. (PolitickerME.com, Jessica Alaimo)

Link: http://www.politickerme.com/jessicaalaimo/2136/whitman-gop-candidates-sh...

Shipyard union endorses Allen

KITTERY — With Gate 1 of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a backdrop, Maine U.S. Rep. Tom Allen Thursday received the endorsement of the Metal Trades Council, the yard's largest union, in his bid for the U.S. Senate.

Allen, a Democrat, also used the opportunity to talk about his economic plan, particularly as it relates to international trade and manufacturing investments. (Seacoast Online, Deborah McDermot)

Link: http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/NEWS/8...

Conservationists grade Maine governor

PORTLAND—A Maine conservation group is giving Gov. John Baldacci a B-minus for his administration's work over the last two years on issues ranging from air quality to fisheries and wildlife.

The Maine League of Conservation Voters' second report card on Baldacci says he slipped since 2006 in several areas, including air quality and climate change, energy, forestry, fish and game and land conservation. It also gives lower grades in marine resources and wilderness issues. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/07/conservationi...

Group renews call for health care in Maine

AUGUSTA—A coalition called Health Care for America Now says insurance company profits and executive salaries are too high.

The group, which includes labor unions and Democratic-leaning organizations, held a news conference in Augusta on Thursday. Leaders reiterated their call for guaranteed, quality health care that everyone can afford. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link:  http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/07/group_renews_...

Sen. Barack Obama, President Bush Allegedly Threatened 

A Maine man is in federal custody in Florida, held without bail and accused of threatening to assassinate President George W. Bush and presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama.

Secret Service identified the alleged would-be assassin as 22-year old Raymond Hunter Geisel. He claims to be from the Bangor area and says he has lived most of his life in that part of Maine. His last known address is listed in Hampden, just outside Bangor. (WGME)

Link: http://www.wgme.com/News/story_detail/story_detail_13.shtml?readmore

Maine gets a break on tax-happy reputation

The idea that Maine has one of the nation's highest tax burdens -- if not the highest -- has burned state officials for years.

Maine's ranking, as calculated by the fiscally conservative Tax Foundation think tank, has been used in policy debates, in political rhetoric and in letters to editors. (Portland Press Herald, Matt Wickenheiser)

Link: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=203646&ac=PHnws

State warms to wood heat

FARMINGDALE -- With heating oil prices still hovering at $4.40 per gallon and with fears rising of a severe winter, Gov. John Baldacci is starting to encourage Mainers to use wood heat this winter rather than oil.

"Wood is a resource this state is rich in," Baldacci said Thursday at A.W. Allen Firewood, a Farmingdale firewood dealer. "This is a Maine solution, using Maine resources, which will benefit Maine people." (Morning Sentinel, Meghan Malloy)

Link: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5299017.html

31,000 stimulus checks unclaimed in Maine

AUGUSTA - Gov. John Baldacci says government tax agencies and private service groups will help thousands of Mainers who have not claimed their economic stimulus checks to get their money.

Baldacci says as many as 31,000 economic stimulus checks, worth $300 or more per person, are designated for Mainers but have not yet been claimed. (Sun Journal, AP)

Link: http://www.sunjournal.com/story/277562-3/MaineNews/31000_stimulus_checks...

Bangor: Sunny Corner fuel program raising funds

BANGOR- An emergency heating assistance program that captured international attention last winter is back.

The Sunny Corner Fuel Assistance Program, founded last year by Bangor residents the Rev. Gerald Oleson and Amy Cooper, is in full fundraising mode and plans to begin in October dispensing funds to families facing heating fuel crises, Oleson said Thursday. (Bangor Daily News, Dawn Gagnon)

Link: http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=168132&zoneid=500

Collins camp to tracker: You’re not fooling us

It’s not uncommon for political parties to send out trackers – people who videotape opposing candidates hoping for the gaffe that will be exquisite for YouTube.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ campaign wasn’t surprised that a tracker was following the Senator at several public events. They were surprised, however, at the various disguises she wore. (PolitickerME.com, Jessica Alaimo)

Link: http://www.politickerme.com/jessicaalaimo/2141/collins-camp-tracker-you-...

With the PolitickerME.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Maine's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.