A tight race in Maine-02? …Very possibly.

Interesting, although why the article went with the registered voter results when the likely voter results were 35/34 (more on that below) is unclear:

A poll commissioned by Republican candidate Bruce Poliquin reveals a tight race in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

The survey, conducted by the GOP polling firm Public Opinion Strategies*, showed Poliquin trailing Democrat Emily Cain by four points, 37-33.

…and this is probably the most interesting part: Continue reading A tight race in Maine-02? …Very possibly.

Interesting – and, for Democrats, faintly alarming – results in Maine-02.

In ME-02 incumbent Democrat Mike Michaud is, of course, running for governor of Maine: so his seat is now open.  And after last night’s results, I think that it may end up being considered more competitive than Lean Democratic.  As of 10:30 AM today, Democrat Emily Cain has only gotten about 800 more votes than Republican Bruce Poliquin did; and turnout was noticeably higher on the Republican side than the Democratic one.  Both candidates are unabashedly partisan; but you’d expect that the Democrats would have done better with GOTV on a seat that they’re currently holding.

Keep an eye on this race.  Bruce Poliquin’s site is here.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

RedState Interview: Kevin Raye (R CAND, ME-02).

Maine is… interesting, this cycle.  The state as a whole is very likely going to go to Barack Obama: but ME-02 is generally considered to be more accessible to Romney.  This matters because Maine assigns its Electoral Votes by who wins its two Congressional Districts (with two going to the statewide winner): combine that with a legitimate candidate in ME-02 itself, and you have yourself a race.  Kevin Raye fits the bill: he’s the current Maine State Senate President, former chief of staff for Olympia Snowe, and has just now  picked up endorsements from two of the largest newspapers in Maine (including, surprisingly, the largest: the Obama-endorsing Bangor Daily News). He is making a race of it, in other words.

Kevin and I spoke for a bit this morning:

Kevin’s site is here.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

Expanding the map: GOP moves to lock down ME-02.

Essentially, the Restore Our Future Super PAC* will be putting in a 300K ad buy in that market over the next week. It’s a twofer: first, it helps blanket New Hampshire, which is one place where Obama for America is currently frantically trying to shore up its latest firewall.  Second, it covers… ME-02.  Recent partisan polling is showing Romney ahead, there: and since Maine is one of two states where some of its Electoral Votes are distributed by who wins its Congressional Districts, well.  It’s apparently worth 300K to explore the possibility.

If you’re wondering: yes, the state legislature did make ME-02 more competitive this go-round for Republicans, but not by all that much.  Truth is, if somebody else besides Obama was on the ticket this EV would probably be out of reach.  Fortunately, Obama is on the ticket.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

PS: We do have a guy in ME-02: Kevin Raye.  He certainly wouldn’t mind your support.

*Which is, like ALL Super PACs on both sides of the contest, completely independent of the parent campaign.  Completely.