Wake-Up Call: Monday, September 1, 2008

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.

This week, Politicker.com will be at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Stay tuned to Politicker.com over the course of the week for live updates from the convention.

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.

Palin choice appeases conservatives, Romney supporters

As Maine Goes, the conservative message board for Maine politics, was buzzing with news about the VP pick today, said editor Scott Fish. At 4 p.m., the thread about the pick had 119 replies and 2,447 page views, Fish said.

About 90 percent of the posters were excited about the pick, including some who had been weary about McCain. (PolitickerME.com, Jessica Alaimo)

Link: http://www.politickerme.com/jessicaalaimo/2439/palin-choice-appeases-con...

Maine eyes 4-day school, work week

PORTLAND—More than 100 school districts in 16 states have decided to go with four-day school weeks. At least one state has told its employees to work four days a week. Now, the energy-saving idea is beginning to get serious consideration in Maine. (Boston Globe, AP)

Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/30/maine_lawmake...

Maine Senate hopeful rebuffed

PORTLAND—A federal judge has turned down the latest bid by independent U.S. Senate hopeful Herbert Hoffman to secure a place on Maine's November ballot.  (Boston Globe, AP)

Link:  http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/29/maine_senate_...

Gov pledges help for displaced Berwick workers

AUGUSTA—Saying he had learned of Prime Tanning's intent to shut down its Berwick facility, Maine Gov. John Baldacci announced that the Maine Department of Labor will deploy its rapid response team to Berwick shortly.  (Boston Globe, AP)

Link:  http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/29/gov_pledges_h...

Maine GOP enthusiastic about McCain's veep

AUGUSTA—Maine Republicans on Friday offered universal praise for John McCain's selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate and the first woman to appear on the GOP ticket.  (Boston Globe, AP)

Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/08/29/maine_gop_ent...

Car-smoking law kicks in

AUGUSTA- Maine on Monday joins other states and Canadian provinces that have made it illegal to smoke in a car while children are present. But for the first year the law's in effect, violators will only get warnings. (Sun Journal, AP)

Link: http://www.sunjournal.com/story/280900-3/MaineNews/Carsmoking_law_kicks_...

Labor group launches ad campaign in Maine 

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A labor advocacy group will begin airing $5 million worth of ads today on national cable and in targeted states – including Maine – to press for legislation that would allow workers to organize without secret ballot elections. (Portland Press Herald, AP)

Link: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=207737&ac=PHnws

Storm worries Maine GOP 

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Maine delegates to the Republican National Convention here say they are disappointed but understand why their convention schedule had to be altered as a result of Hurricane Gustav, which was predicted to hit the Gulf Coast sometime this morning. (Bangor Daily News, Linda Killian)

Link: http://bangornews.com/detail/49927.html

GOP delegates: McCain's experience is a key asset

Maine's delegates to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis say they're looking for leadership and a focused message from presumptive nominee Arizona Sen. John McCain this week. (Portland Press Herald, Dieter Bradbury)

Link: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=207594&ac=PHnws

Energy auditors are a hot commodity 

As fall approaches, Maine government agencies and businesses are struggling to find enough trained people to evaluate and weatherize thousands of energy-wasting homes. (Morning Sentinel, Tux Turkel)

Link: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5367369.html

Baldacci: Seizing Katahdin mill not yet an option 

MILLINOCKET — Gov. John Baldacci will hold a multibillion-dollar Toronto-based conglomerate to its promise to reopen the Katahdin Avenue mill before he acts on other options, he said Saturday. (Bangor Daily News, Nick Sambides)

Link: http://bangornews.com/detail/49930.html

Collins: I want to campaign here in Maine 

BLUE HILL— U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said that though it is exciting that John McCain has picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate in the presidential campaign, she is not going to attend the Republican National Convention next week in Minneapolis.   (Bangor Daily News, Bill Trotter)

Link:  http://bangornews.com/detail/49883.html

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.