Dean Scontras

PORTLAND -- In conceding defeat in the Republican congressional primary tonight, Eloit businessman Dean Scontras vowed to never stop pushing the conservative message in the state and hinted that while this might be his first run for public office, this might not be the last.

"You haven't heard from me for the last time," Scontras ended his speech by saying.

Scontras urged his supporters to rally behind the Republican nominee Charlie Summers. Summers is expected to defeat Scontras by double digits. All along the campaign was one of the conservative grassroots behind Scontras with the Republican moderate establishment backing Summers.

PORTLAND -- Dean Scontras, the businessman seeking the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional District tonight, said in an interview that he "feels good" about his chances tonight even though early returns show him behind 10 percentage points.

"We took some losses early, but we are really watching York County right now," said Scontras.

A political newcomer, Scontras said that no matter what happens tonight he is proud of the campaign he ran and that he will go back to being a family man. That said, he is not conceding anything yet.

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.

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:

Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist has endorsed Dean Scontras (R-Elliot), saying he will be "A leader in congress on immigration reform and border security," according to the Scontras campaign.

Scontras is currently battling Charlie Summers (R-Scarborough) to secure the Republican nomination for Maine's 1st Congressional District.

"I'm proud to accept Mr. Gilchrist's endorsement in the Republican Primary," said Scontras in a statement. "Border security is an issue that Maine Republicans are concerned about and that I've worked hard to do something about during this campaign.  Mainers have my pledge to make securing our borders and cracking down on the sanctuary cities, states and companies which encourage the flow of illegal immigrants into America a top priority when I am elected to Congress."

2008 is proving to be a whacky election year in Maine, and it doesn’t look like things are going to change. 

With 37 debates down and several more to go, candidates for the First Congressional District have answered all kinds of questions about what they will do when they get to Congress.

At a Portland area Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday morning, question-writers flipped around the tenses. In front of a crowd of about 200 people involved with greater Portland businesses, Republican and Democratic candidate were asked to first say what they will have accomplished after two years in office, and then to use that information to make a sales pitch to voters.

Click on the links for audio.

Democratic candidate Steve Meister was unable to make the debate.

Rear Admiral Harold Young (U.S. Navy, Ret.) endorsed Republican Dean Scontras for Congress today.

Young previously served as vice commander, Naval Sea Systems Command and Chief Engineer of the Navy at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

In a statement, Young said:

A few hours after the Romney endorsement of Summers, the Scontras campaign announces an endorsement by Rear Admiral Harold Young (Ret.).

Forget for a moment whether or not endorsements really matter, they don't.  What is important here,  is that the Scontras campaign hit back, and never leaves anything unanswered. 

 Democrats have always followed that rule ---  less so, Republicans. 

Dean Scontras, Summers opponent, has made major in-roads with the conservative base of the party, and the Romney endorsement is an attempt to beat back some of the gains resulting from  Dean's more conservative credentials.

Endorsements are not votes. They provide a nice bump for the campaign, but the only endorsement that matters is on June 10th.