Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

Attorney General William Schneider is hoping a couple of Sen. Olympia Snowe’s former campaign staffers can help him win Snowe’s job.

Schneider has hired Justin Brasell, Snowe’s former re-election campign manager, and Martin Sheehan, a former Snowe campaign aide who also used to be communications director at the Maine Heritage Policy Center. Brasell was described by the Washington Post as “a renowned Republican operative” and was the former campaign manager of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota.

Schneider’s hires are especially interesting because Snowe’s  now-defunct re-election campaign also shared a voter e-mail list with the attorney general shortly after her surprise retirement announcement in February.

Snowe said last month she may endorse a candidate before the GOP primary June 12, but she hasn’t yet. And the campaign connections don’t necessarily mean it will be Schneider. Snowe also has ties to others in the race, most notably her own former long-time aide Secretary of State Charlie Summers.

Schneider, meanwhile, announced today that he has launched a campaign website (http://schneiderformaine.com), a Twitter account (@BillForMaine) and a Facebook page.

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Open Season targets all of Maine's political wildlife, from Portland city government to the donkeys, elephants and independents stalking the Statehouse and U.S. Capitol.

John Richardson joined the Press Herald in 1990 after working as a reporter in New Jersey. He has covered a variety of beats, including marine issues, the environment and health care. He is now covering politics and focusing on Maine's U.S. Senate race.
John can be reached at 791-6324 or jrichardson@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @jrichmaine

Colin Woodard has covered politics and elections for more than two decades, from Bosnia and Bucharest to Washington, D.C., Augusta, and Portland City Hall. He has written for a wide range of national and international publications and is the author of four books, including "American Nations," a history of North America's regional cultures. He joined the Portland Press Herald at the end of April and covers political finance and lobbying, among other things.
Colin can be reached at 791-6317 or cwoodard@pressherald.com

Susan Cover has covered Maine politics for 10 years and worked in Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island as a reporter. This year, she is focusing on covering the same-sex marriage debate for MaineToday Media.
Susan can be reached at 621-5643 or scover@mainetoday.com

Michael Shepherd joined MaineToday Media in May 2012 after graduating from the University of Maine in Orono, where he edited The Maine Campus, the student newspaper there. Until November he'll be writing the Truth Test, a recurring feature analyzing political statements and advertising.
Michael can be reached at 621-5632 or mshepherd@mainetoday.com

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