Otten's ad:

One interesting bit that didn't make it into my column today is Cutler's opinion towards the Clean Elections act. While he plans to run a privately-financed campaign, he promised that he wouldn't be attacking his opponents for accepting public financing.
I've actually been asking all of the candidates I've spoken to, both clean and traditionally-financed, whether they plan to make it a campaign issue.
Democrat Rosa Scarcelli has had the most nuanced opinion on the subject so far. She says she supports clean elections for legislative races, but strongly opposes using the system for a state-wide race under current economic conditions.
She also pledged not to "fault" her opponents for using clean election funds.
Here's the relevant recorded audio from our conversation:

In recent media coverage on the viability of the fund, Scarcelli has been one of the most vocal opponents of public financing. Here's her quote from MPBN:
"What we're seeing now is that lots and lots of people are getting into the race that don't have the capacity of the desire to raise and finance their own campaigns with their own supporters," says Democrat Rosa Scarcelli of Portland, who is staging a privately-funded campaign. She says she opposes the idea of allowing more private money into publicly-funded campaigns.
"I believe that if we have Clean Election funds and we start to change the rules mid-cycle, we're doing a disservice to the Maine people, who probably as they pay attention to this, will find it troubling that we're paying for funding for campaigns, rather than paying for programs, when we're going to cut another $400 million out of our budget in this emergency session," Scarcelli says.
I'm not sure if that can be considered faulting her opponents, but it's certainly coming close.
It will be interesting how this issue shapes up as the legislature and the ethics commission continue to discuss how to deal with a clean elections fund that has been raided over and over again in ord

Newly minted gubernatorial candidate John Richardson's morning rally in Brunswick:
The former Maine House Speaker announced his intention to seek the Blaine House today and that he will be resigning from his position as Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development to do so. Governor Baldacci has announced that Richardson will be replaced by Deputy Commissioner Thaxter Trafton.
Richardson's campaign has the beginnings of a website up at www.johnrichardsonformaine.com. He will run as a clean elections candidate.
And speaking of succession, Augusta Rep. Patsy Crockett has announced her intention to run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Senate President and gubernatorial candidate Libby Mitchell. Mitchell has endorsed her bid.

New Left Media has produced a short film chronicling the last few days of the No on 1 campaign.
Part 1:
Part 2:

Both of Maine's Representatives, Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud have announced their support for the House health care reform bill due to be voted on tonight.
Pingree has always been a champion of real reform. Here are her remarks today from the House floor:
Michaud waited a bit longer to announce his final intentions, but issued a statement today supporting the legislation:
We must come together and get the best possible bill passed so that the Mainers I represent not only have more affordable coverage – but coverage that meets their needs. Later tonight, I will say yes to expanding health care coverage to the thousands of small businesses and people in Maine who do not have it and, to those who do, making it more affordable and better. Today, I will say yes to ending the practice of denying coverage due to preexisting conditions and other abusive insurance industry abuses.
Being able to get quality health care should never be a question for any American. The bill we passed today is a good step forward. It will help make sure that no American goes broke because they get sick or is ever denied coverage. This is an historic day, but more work lies ahead. I look forward to continuing to work toward meaningful reform that is good for Maine.

Click below for the audio from Big Talk on WMPG last night. We intended to discuss all the election results, but mostly ended up focusing on Question 1.

A heartbreaking gathering today on the steps of Portland's City Hall:
Full video.

An Election Day video from the No on 2 and 4 campaigns, featuring a bunch of awesome people:

A look at the Get Out The Vote efforts on Question 1:
And Question 4:

Apparently, eccentric unsuccessful Republican congressional candidate John Frary is the best spokesperson the Yes on 1 campaign could find to put up against Shenna Bellows in a debate at UMF.
The results are predictably hilarious:

Yesterday, the No on 1 campaign launched yet another campaign ad pushing back at the unfounded claims that the new law will somehow threaten Maine's schoolchildren.
The campaign also held a press call faulting Yes on 1 for attacking Maine teacher of the year Sherri Gould.
Here's the audio:

Mary Bonauto of Protect Maine Equality and Mark Mutty of Stand For Marriage Maine face off on WLBZ/WCSH:

For Down East this week, I wanted to see what the campaigns contesting referendum questions 3 and 5 are up to. Take a look.
I should note that, as of today, the Yes on 3 campaign now has an actual website. They also seem to have impressed the Sun Journal editorial board.
Here's video of Newell Augur doing what appears to be some one-man campaigning against the repeal:

No on 1 - Protect Maine Equality held a conference call today bringing together leaders in education policy and practice from all over the state to (hopefully) put to rest the scurrilous claims made by equal marriage opponents about what keeping Maine's same-sex marriage law will mean for Maine students.
Call participants included:
State Senator Justin Alfond, Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs
State Representative Emily Cain, Chair of Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee
Principal Pat Doyle, Oak Hill High School (School Union #44, Litchfield, Sabattus and Wales)
Sherri Gould of Corinna, 2005 Maine Teacher of the Year
Nina Roth-Wells, Georgetown School Committee Member
Click below to hear the call (runs 22 minutes).

In related news, Gerald was first to post a new poll released today by the No on 1 campaign showing 50% of respondents in favor of keeping the law. Only 41% of those surveyed said they would reject equal marriage.

The first No on 4 TV ad is up.

A lot of radio the last couple days. I did an interviewed for a show on the African American Public Radio Consortium on Sen. Snowe yesterday, a live hour on health care on WMPG last night and this morning I spoke with Ben Goodman and Pete Christopher on the UMaine morning show about the gubernatorial race and November's referendums.
Here's the audio:

Not the best sound quality from my phone, but I think you get the idea.
Goodman and Christopher's Drive Time Bangor has been one of the few media outlets diving into the minutia of Maine politics lately. I'm glad they're now posting clips on their website.

My interview with Senate President and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Libby Mitchell is up over at Down East today. In it, she discusses her campaign, her career, her age and topless coffee shops, among other issues.
Since I our conversation took place on International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I asked her to engage in some salty pirate talk. The audio below is the result.

The anti-gay marriage side's first ad is up.
I am suddenly very afraid of slow-motion Deb Simpson.

WCSH's Vivien Leigh visits the headquarters and provides a snapshot of both sides of the equal marriage campaign:
Gay marriage opponents continue to push for public debates on the issue, which they obviously feel would be a good forum for their arguments. A podium to podium match-up would steer the contest towards a dry policy discussion and away from the kind of powerful and effective personal appeals from equal marriage supporters like those seen at the bill's public hearing and in their TV ads.