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Maine State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin announced a new round of endorsements from state lawmakers today.

They are: Rep. Mike McClennan, R-Raymond; Rep. Howard McFadden, R-Dennysville; Rep. Wes Richardson, R-Warren and  Sen.  Rod Whittemore, R-Somerset County. McClennan and Richardson are quoted in the announcement praising Poliquin as a hard-nosed fiscal conservative.

"My campaign has gathered more endorsements from local and national leaders than any other Republican candidate,” Poliquin boasts in the campaign’s news release.  

Poliquin already had the endorsement of eight other conservative Republican legislators: Rep. David C. Burns, R-Whiting; Rep. Phillip A. Curtis, R-Madison; Rep. Larry C. Dunphy, R-Embden; Rep. Jeffery A. Gifford, R-Lincoln; Rep. Peter B. Johnson, R-Greenville; Rep. Mel Newendyke, R-Litchfield, Rep. Beth A. O'Connor, R-Berwick; and Rep. Deborah J. Sanderson, R-Chelsea.

In the contest for endorsements from state legislators, Poliquin and Secretary of State Charlie Summers actually are running neck and neck. 

Summers has announced support from 12 lawmakers, as well: Sen. Roger Sherman, R- Aroostook; Rep. Bernard Ayotte, R-Caswell; Rep. Peter Edgecomb, R-Caribou; Rep. Michael Willette, R-Presque Isle; Rep. Tyler Clark, R-Easton; Rep. Alexander Willette, R-Mapleton; Rep. Joyce Fitzpatrick, R-Houlton;  Rep. Ricky Long, R-Sherman; Sen. Roger Katz, R-Augusta, Sen .Thomas Martin, R-Benton;  Sen.  Earle McCormick, R-West Gardiner and Sen. Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton.

Poliquin, meanwhile, also has a national level endorsement – from U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah – which is why he can claim more endorsements overall, at least for the moment.

The Poliquin campaign’s latest announcement also talks up its fundraising efforts. 

“Poliquin set records for the amount of money raised in the 2010 gubernatorial primary race.  He is expected to be the best funded candidate during the short Republican primary race ending on June 12^th.” 

Poliquin has a lot of personal wealth to put into the campaign, but he will have some catching up to do if he wants to be the “best-funded” this time around. 

Former Maine Senate President Rick Bennett appears to be in the money lead after raising $107,659 by the end of March, according to his recently financial report. Reports from other candidates are still trickling into the Federal Election Commission. However, Poliquin said this week he did not have enough cash on hand by March 31 to require a disclosure filing. The FEC requires a disclosure filing if a candidate raises or spends more than $5,000 in a reporting period. 

Poliquin would not say what he has raised or spent so far in April. 

Of course, money isn’t everything. Poliquin ended up with 4.9 percent of the vote in the gubernatorial primary despite his fundraising success.

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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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