Michael Brennan

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:

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: Michael Brennan, 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.

Disclaimer: PolitickerME.com does not condone choosing a Congressional candidate based on their party planning abilities. The following information should be used for entertainment purposes only.

The Augusta Civic Center was littered with flyers for these parties. “Bring your friends and party like it’s June 11th!!!” read a flyer for Ethan Strimling’s party.

PolitickerME took the liberty of rating the parties. The verdict? U.S. Reps. Tom Allen and Mike Michaud, and House candidate Ethan Strimling know how to throw a good party. But others could use some work.

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.

Several new ads, debates and endorsements in the race for the First Congressional District…

“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.

Democratic Congressional candidate Michael Brennan delivered a letter to members of Maine’s Congressional delegation yesterday detailing why funding for the Iraq War should be cut off.

The letter, delivered to Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, and Rep. Tom Allen, began: