Chellie Pingree

This year there were seven legislators in the Maine delegation to the Democratic National Convention, more than in recent history.

PolitickerME had the opportunity to talk with four state lawmakers at the delegation breakfast Thursday. State Rep. Elaine Makas (D-Lewiston) and Maine House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven) are Obama delegates, and Rep. Cynthia Dill (D-Cape Elizabeth) and Sen. Phillip Bartlett (D-Gorham) are Clinton delegates.

In addition, Reps. Jon Hinck (D-Portland), Christopher Babbidge (D-Kennebunk) and Linda Valentino (D-Saco) spent the week in Denver.

Note: The video below of U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) is from the Pingree campaign 

ME-1 candidate Chellie Pingree (D-North Haven) picked up two endorsements this week.

Pingree is running against Charlie Summers (R-Scarborough) for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Tom Allen who is running for Senate.

U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) campaigned for Pingree in Maine this week. Edwards was elected this year in a special election.

Pingree also picked up the endorsement of the JStreetPAC this week, a national group designed to promote American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Palestinian-Isreal conflicts.

She was one of 10 Democrats endorsed by them this week.

Congressional candidate Chellie PingreeFirst Congressional District candidate Chellie Pingree (D-North Haven) is skipping her party’s national convention.

Campaign spokesman Willy Ritch said she is staying in the district to campaign.

Her daughter, Maine House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven) is going as a Party Leader/Elected Official delegate for Barack Obama.

Chellie Pingree’s opponent, Charlie Summers (R-Scarborough) is going to the Republican National Convention as a delegate.

Chellie Pingree, Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District, recently had a discussion with activist Laurie Dobson on North Haven island, Pingree’s home and Dobson’s summer home.

Willy Ritch, Pingree’s spokesman, said that Dobson had just asked to talk with Pingree.

Pingree was then surprised when an account of the conversation was printed in The Bollard, an alternative monthly publication in Portland. There, Dobson presented the piece as an interview with Pingree.

Ed Gorham, president of Maine’s chapter of the AFL-CIO, had one word to describe Employee Freedom’s ads: Despicable.

“We appreciate the concern of the group that Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola is financing,” Gorham said. “But they’ve never been friends of working people.”

The argument is over the Employee Free Choice Act, which expands the options for unions to organize. Employee Freedon, the group working against the legislation, argues that the new option -- a majority sign-up -- does not include an election in the workplace, yielding an undemocratic process and opening the doors for intimidation.

There were two endorsements in the ME-1 race today.

The Maine State Employees Association endorsed Chellie Pingree (D-North Haven).

Pingree’s opponent, Charlie Summers (R-Scarborough), today announced the endorsement of the Republican Main Street Partnership.

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.

In a new ad, a mob boss from the Sopranos makes a guest appearance with cardboard cutouts of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland), who is challenging Collins.

The ad is part of a campaign opposing candidates who support the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation intended to make it easier for workers to organize by eliminating the requirement of the private ballot.

Collins opposes the bill. Allen is a co-sponsor, along with Rep. Mike Michaud (D-East Millinocket).