Josh Tardy

Photos from Todd Palin's visit to Maine:

The First Dude in Palmyra: Several supporters wore pink shirts saying "Maine's 2nd District welcomes Alaska's 1st Dude." Politicker photo.

Republican Presidential candidate John McCain will begin a significant media campaign in the state, said state Rep. Josh Tardy (R-Newport), the vice-chairman of his campaign in Maine.

McCain announced late yesterday that he was pulling out of Michigan and instead focusing his resources on states such as Maine. At a press conference Friday afternoon, Tardy said there are no definitive plans to add extra staff or for a campaign visit.

Check back in a bit for more on Tardy’s announcement.

By the time 2010 rolls around, it will have been 16 years since a republican has lived in the Blaine House. There is a long list of folks who would like to bring an end to that dry spell.

Snowe and McKernan: Olympia Snowe and John McKernan at the Maine Republican Convention in May. Politicker file photo.MINNEAPOLIS -- U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe said she would not take a job in presidential nominee John McCain’s administration if given the opportunity.

“No,” she said when asked by PolitickerME Wednesday. “I like what I’m doing in the Senate.”

However, had she been offered the vice presidency she would have “seriously considered it,” though she was never asked.

Snowe and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins are both close to McCain. Several Republican leaders have speculated that they would be on the top of McCain’s list for a cabinet job, if the Republican is elected.

Both Democrats and Republicans this year are trying to create a perception of bipartisanship – by showing that members of the opposing party support them.

This was evident at the national level, when Jim Leach, a former Republican congressman from Iowa, spoke at the Democratic National Convention for Barack Obama, and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), a former Democrat, spoke at the Republican National Convention for John McCain.

Barack Obama’s Maine campaign formed the group “Maine Republicans for Obama” this week, chaired by Robert Monks and former state Rep. Sherry Huber.

Several Republican leaders in the state issued statements regarding John McCain’s pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as Vice President.

Legislative Democrats were quick to point out that history appeared to be repeating itself after the Republicans proposed a special session without pay for legislators last week.

In 2004, the Democrats had approved retroactive legislation to waive pay for lawmakers in a special session that dovetailed the regular session. Republicans sued, won, and back pay was awarded.

The circumstances, however, were vastly different.

Ryan Low, the deputy chief of staff to Gov. John Baldacci, earned the recommendation of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee to be the top money man in the state Wednesday.

Ryan Low: Low testifies at his confirmation hearing. Politicker photo.

Republicans have been taking steps to own the energy issue in Maine, hoping they can ride the energy wave to victory on Election Day. 

A Republican former state House candidate said he was pressured out of running by leaders of his party because of politically incorrect online comments he had made on various Web sites.

Jarody, a 24-year-old from Augusta who only goes by one name, planned to run for House District 57 against incumbent Patsy Crockett (D-Augusta). GOP Party Chairman Mark Ellis and House Republican Leader Josh Tardy convinced him not to.

He withdrew, but in retrospect regretted the decision.

"I was a Ron Paul person, I was used to not getting their support," he said.