Mark Lawrence

Adam Cote used to be a Republican. He served in Iraq, and is an attorney specializing in energy and real estate development issues. He inspired Republican State Senator Karl Turner and Former GOP leader, Tony Payne to temporarily switch parties. He even made a glowing impression on the conservative talk show host Ray Richardson. The topic of Adam's Republican fan club came up during Cote's campaign for the Democratic nomination for Maine's 1st Congressional District. Although he lost the nomination to Chellie Pingree, Cote, with no political experience under his belt, toppled liberal darlings Ethan Strimling, Mark Lawrence and Mike Brennan, with second place finish.

Poor Mark Lawrence. Maybe if he'd laid off the impeachment talk during his campaign, he would have finished higher than 5th place.

OK - help me out here. Who is the biggest loser in the primary campaign?

It's a tough call.

I think you have to consider Mark Impeach Lawrence who finished 5th, and a distant 5th with less than 5% of the vote in the First Congressional District. Here you have a great candidate, District Attorney and former Senate President who ran a campaign that focused on the impeachment of George Bush. If you start being referred to as a far left candidate -- when you have Ethan Strimling and Mike Brennan in the race, you know something has gone seriously awry.

ELIOT -- Here in the Southern most reach of the 1st Congressional District there appeared little doubt about who most of the local Democrats were supporting.

"Why, I am with the hometown boy," said state Rep. Walter Wheeler (D-Kittery), meaning he was for Mark Lawrence, from nearby South Berwick. Lawrence is one of six Democrats competing in a primary today for the open seat soon to be vacated by Tom Allen, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Just before the primary, local firefighters endorsed York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence in his bid to be the Democratic Party's candidate in the 1st Congressional District.

The International Association of Firefighters, Local F-123, which represents firefighters at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, announced their support for the candidate last Tuesday. Lawrence's father, Irving, worked at the shipyard as a welder for over 38 years.

"Mark Lawrence's commitment to a strong national defense and his understanding of the unique issues that face the Shipyard, make him the best choice to represent Maine's working families at the Shipyard," said Local F-123 President Daniel Tice in a statement. "His involvement in the public safety sector gives him insight into the challenges facing firefighters across the State."

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:

It's a good thing Adam Cote spent some time in the military, because the enemy fire is really picking up.

Throughout most of the campaign, Adam has been dodging sniper fire quite well. He has endured the sporadic burst of fire from Strimling on Cote's republican donors as well as the occasional grenade tossed in by Lawrence or Pingree on his on-again, off-again relationship with the Republican Party.

Plenty of danger, but Cote managed to escape uninjured.....so far.

In fact, a Cote victory and wins for Collins and Michaud in November would put the entire Maine delegation in the political middle.

Photos from the evening speeches and rallies at the Maine Democratic Convention:

Mouse over for details. 

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

Dave Shofield of Sanford introduced Lawrence, click here for video.