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

The Maine Republican Party sent out an email blast today encouraging their base to visit websites and watch videos of the six people who are running for the U.S. Senate because they didn't get a chance to hear from them at the convention.

"During the course of the Maine Republican Party Convention our U.S. Senate Candidates did not have an opportunity to deliver their messages to the Delegates," wrote executive director Rick Tetrev. "In light of that, we have compiled the information from our candidates and ask you to take a moment of your valuable time to read their speeches and listen to their video messages."

The candidates -- Rick Bennett, Debra Plowman, Bruce Poliquin, Bill Schneider, Charlie Summers and Scott D'Amboise -- spent weeks getting geared up for the convention, with flashy biographical videos and speeches meant to help them win on June 12.

But after Ron Paul supporters took over the convention, delays forced the agenda to be changed several times and eventually meant there was no time for the Senate candidates to give their speeches. Most of them delivered some of their remarks to supporters at the convention in side rooms or by their booths, although none of them got to use the big stage to address the entire crowd.

D'Amboise even threatened to send a bill to the party for the money he spent to get ready for the convention -- estimated at $5,000 -- and others expressed frustration that they could not go on as planned. A day earlier, candidates for the US House had their speech times cut in half.

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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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