Mark Ellis

The Maine Republican Party has released a statement in advance of Barack Obama’s big acceptance speech tonight.

Maine GOP Chairman Mark Ellis said:

Video: Sen. Collins' response to Allen's speech, from the Collins campaign 

Both the Maine Republican Party and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) responded to U.S. Rep. Tom Allen’s (D-Portland) speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday.

Allen is challenging Collins for her seat this November.

The party said the Allen campaign exaggerated the significance of the speech noting that it lasted only 1 minute and 48 seconds, and that 7:07 p.m. was “well outside the ‘prime time’.”

Maine GOP chairman Mark Ellis issued the following statement:

As Democrats are gathering in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, Republicans in Maine are saying they're skeptical of the man the Democrats are expected to name their presidential nominee.

In a statement Tuesday, Maine GOP chairman Mark Ellis said U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was not ready to lead the nation. 

“Barack Obama’s record speaks for itself – he is not ready to lead,” said Ellis said. “When it comes to taxes, Obama voted for tax increases 94 times during his short tenure in the Senate.  He even supported raising taxes on those making as little as $42,000.  The last thing Maine families and Maine small businesses need in these tough economic times are higher taxes.”   

Ellis also criticized Obama's stated reluctance to expand off-shore oil drilling as a method for bringing down gasoline prices, saying presumptive Republican nominee U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) offered better solutions.

"Obama opposes common sense solutions like offshore drilling and nuclear energy, while John McCain has the right idea in proposing comprehensive ‘all of the above’ solutions to our energy crisis.  The bottom line is Obama is wrong on the economy and wrong on energy.  Barack Obama does not have the judgment or the experience to be President of the United States.” 

Mark Ellis, chairman of the Maine Republican Party, has issued a statement attacking Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential pick.

He pointed out hypocrisy in Obama, who touts change in government, picking a “longtime Washington insider.”

His full statement:

The Center for Responsive Politics found this week that while many perceive John McCain as the candidate backed by the oil companies, Barack Obama gets his share as well.

The center found that of the two major party candidates, McCain benefits the most from the industry itself, however Obama gets more from individual donors who are employees of the the largest companies in the industry.

This distinction was made in Maine today as the two state parties exchanged jabs over energy prices, each saying the other’s candidate should do something to bring immediate relief to citizens.

A Republican former state House candidate said he was pressured out of running by leaders of his party because of politically incorrect online comments he had made on various Web sites.

Jarody, a 24-year-old from Augusta who only goes by one name, planned to run for House District 57 against incumbent Patsy Crockett (D-Augusta). GOP Party Chairman Mark Ellis and House Republican Leader Josh Tardy convinced him not to.

He withdrew, but in retrospect regretted the decision.

"I was a Ron Paul person, I was used to not getting their support," he said.

Congress was in a partisan divide this week over whether to go home for their August recess. In the House, Tom Allen, D-Portland, voted with the Democrats to adjourn. In the Senate, Susan Collins, R-Bangor, voted with the Republicans to stay.

Allen is challenging Collins for her Senate seat.

The measure to adjourn passed narrowly in both chambers, but according to the Politico, House Republicans are still on the floor talking.

The debate was over energy. Republicans wanted to stay to push their plan – one that Allen’s campaign said would be disastrous.