Steve Meister

Talk about horrible timing … PolitickerME has been out with a nasty flu for the past few days.

Here’s a quick rundown on what’s been going on in the days leading up the primary.

Monday, June 2:

Video: Steve Meister, a Democrat running for the First Congressional District, gave the following speech at the Maine Democratic Convention this weekend.

The convention floor is clear and delegates have disbursed to the various parties – all of which started three hours late.

Before the final speaker came out, convention chair Beth Edmonds announced the final delegate tally – 15 delegates from Maine will represent Barack Obama in Denver, and nine will represent Hillary Clinton. The results of all the other votes – for national delegate slots and DNC members – will be announced tomorrow.

The Democratic Convention appeared to be running smoothly up until lunchtime, when chaos erupted. At that point counties broke off into caucuses where voting was to take place on national delegates, presidential electors, state committee slots and DNC positions.

In a crowded Democratic race for Maine's 1st Congressional District, Steve Meister has nabbed the endorsements of both the Maine Medical Political Action Committee and the American Medical Political Action Committee.

In addition to the support from the two medical associations, over 50 Maine physicians have endorsed Meister's congressional bid.

Meister is the only physician running for the first district's congressional seat, but is one of six Democrats vying for the position left open by Tom Allen, who will challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins later this year.

“Toxic Hannah” Pingree will be on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric tonight at 6:30.

Pingree, Maine’s House Majority Leader, participated in a Natural Resources Council of Maine study last year where her body was tested for chemicals, an effort to bring awareness to the hazards found in everyday items.

For the past four years Pingree has led efforts to ban penta, octa and deca, flame retardant chemicals found in television sets and furniture.

First District Congressional Candidate Ethan Strimling has called one of his opponents "inconsistent" on her Iraq war position, accusing her of "sending mixed messages".

In a statement released by the campaign, Mr. Strimling refers to a recent dust up in which Pingree made several public appearances and pronouncements supporting a withdrawal plan. The Strimling campaign has pointed out that Pingree has said she favors an immediate end to the war, yet she also signed on to a plan that withdraws troops and reduces US involvement over a period of time. That plan is known as the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq.

PolitickerME.com will post audio from the debate in a bit

It was a small event, but nonetheless a fitting venue for Charlie Summers’ first event on the campaign trail.

Summers, a Republican First Congressional District candidate, participated in a candidates forum Monday night at a veterans’ home in his home town, Scarborough.

Summers returned home from Iraq Saturday evening, and spent most of Monday filing the necessary paperwork to get off active duty. For the past nine months his wife, Ruth Summers, has stood in for him on the campaign trail.

Reaching out to the young, tech-savvy crowd, Tom Allen’s campaign sent out a message via Facebook today advertising the campaign’s new video podcast.

Allen, who represents Maine’s First Congressional District in Congress, is challenging incumbent Susan Collins for her Senate seat.

“I am excited to tell you that our campaign has released the first video podcast of any '08 Senate campaign in the country. We will update it periodically with a variety of interesting stuff. Right now, you can find my positions on important issues and the voices of Mainers that we have run across on the campaign trail. Please encourage your friends and family to subscribe as well to help me spread the message,” stated a short message to supporters.

Michael Brennan, D-Portland, is the first candidate in the First Congressional District to advertise on network TV.

The ad, which debuted on WCSH news center several days ago, boasts the theme “working together.” It shows short videos of Brennan campaigning. It can be seen on Brennan’s campaign site.

“This campaign is not about me advancing my political career,” Brennan said. “It’s about me working with you and everyone else in the first district so we can go a long way together”

Steve Meister, D-Winthrop, aired an ad on cable networks earlier this year.

First congressional district candidates will come together to debate twice this week.

Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. they will meet at the SPACE art gallery on Congress Street in Portland in a forum hosted by the League of Young Voters, the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine and the Portland Community Television Network. Justin Ellis of the Portland Press Herald will moderate the debate.  read more »