Rick Bennett

Word from insiders at the convention is that Rick Bennett has won the National Committeeman post and there will be a run-off election between Jan Staples and Kathy Watson on Saturday.  No candidate in that contest garnered a majority.

 Official results should be announced this evening.

The battle for National Committeeman and National Committeewoman is heating up with two new entrants. Kathy Watson and Jan Staples, both long time political activists, have been joined by Lean Bean. For long time followers of politics, Ms. Folkers is no stranger to republican politics having run for several offices over the years. Rumors are that Linda Bean is a Ron Paul fan and would like to garner one of the top coveted spots in republican politics. Insiders say that her late entry will likely hurt Staples, and give Watson the votes to win the post.

Rick Bennett also faces a challenge from Hayes Gahagan, another long time republican gadfly. He also ran as an independent for the US Senate in 1978, losing to Republican Bill Cohen. Bennett is expected to win easily.

The vote takes place later in the day today (Friday) We will keep you posted.

The current rumor circulating among Republicans is that Peter Cianchette will resign his post as National Committeeman from Maine. If so, that would mean that both posts will be up for grabs this Friday, when Republicans convene in Augusta.

Karen Raye, the current National Committeewoman has announced she will not be running for reelection so that she can spend her time at family's mustard business in Washington County. Currently two people have announced their intentions to run for the post; Jan Staples, who held the post prior to Raye and the former Chair of the Republican Party, Kathy Watson. This will be a good race, although it should be noted no one has been able to explain to me what they do - other than get better seats at events.

What a difference a week makes! It would appear that the Republican ranks for the 2010 race for governor are not as small after all. (Thanks, again, to readers for their tips!)