Laurie Dobson

There are a handful of declared write-in candidates for next Tuesday’s election, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

A federal judge has denied a request by independent U.S. Senate hopeful Laurie Dobson to halt the printing of November’s ballots, the Portland Press Herald is reporting.

Dobson claimed she was unfairly kept off the ballot because municipal clerks didn’t get her signatures approved by the Secretary of State’s deadline.

"There is no constitutional right to procrastination," U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock wrote in his opinion, according to the Press Herald.

The other independent candidate hoping to run, Herb Hoffman, was taken off the ballot after the Maine Democratic Party successfully challenged enough of his nominating signatures.

This leaves incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland) running with no third-party candidates.

Barack Obama gets an endorsement from a former governor, while Tom Allen gets more bad news on the polling front. Check out this week's list of Winners & Losers. | CLICK HERE

Laurie Dobson, an independent U.S. Senate hopeful, is continuing to work the courts system to try and get her name on the ballot.

Her case will be heard at 2 p.m. Friday at the U.S. District Court in Bangor, where the court will decide whether to grant a temporary restraining order to keep the Secretary of State from finalizing the ballot design.

Chellie Pingree, Democratic candidate for the First Congressional District, recently had a discussion with activist Laurie Dobson on North Haven island, Pingree’s home and Dobson’s summer home.

Willy Ritch, Pingree’s spokesman, said that Dobson had just asked to talk with Pingree.

Pingree was then surprised when an account of the conversation was printed in The Bollard, an alternative monthly publication in Portland. There, Dobson presented the piece as an interview with Pingree.

Not satisfied with pretending to be a US Senate candidate for several months, Ms. Dobson has also pretended to be a reporter.  The Kennebunk Post, in an editorial (note: link is a large pdf file the editorial is on page 9) gave Ms. Dobson a good whipping, and a well deserved one at that.  Apparently Ms. Dobson decided to tell folks at a local water district meeting she was a reporter from the Post, she isn't. Later, after being questioned by the Post, she changed her story and decided she was a reporter from WERU, she isn't

Well, it was fun while it lasted.  Ms. Dobson has failed to qualify for the 2008 ballot for U.S. Senate.  You will recall, in an earlier post, we gently chided Ms. Dobson for her campaign antics, encouraging her to actually qualify for the ballot first.  The final numbers are not available, but it is certain that she missed the 4000 signature requirement.

More from PolitickerME.com: Laurie Dobson: The Vanity Tour

Apparently, Ms. Dobson and her peasant skirt posse have taken a liking to the confines of the lobby of the Portland office of Senator Collins

Laurie Dobson, an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate, was removed from the Maine GOP Convention by the Augusta Police Department earlier today.

Julie O’Brien, executive director of the party, said Dobson came into the convention to protest the war during Sen. Susan Collins’ speech. She wanted onto the floor – where non-delegates are not allowed to be.

After causing more commotion, sources said, she was asked to leave. When she wouldn’t leave, she was escorted out by police.

Dobson was at the convention last night drumming up support from the Ron Paul supporters, and spoke to Collins at a reception after.