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

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican Charlie Summers in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, the campaign announced this morning.

Summers, a former regional administrator of the Small Business Administration, supports free enterprise over government intervention, Rob Engstrom, the U.S. Chamber’s senior vice president and national political director, said in a written statement. 

“After working in his family’s small business growing up, Summers understands the challenges job creators face,” he said. “Summers’ record in Maine shows that he will advocate for pro-growth policies to produce sustained economic growth, create more jobs, and get our country back on track. We’re proud to support him in his campaign to be Maine’s next U.S. Senator,” Engstrom said.

The national chamber is a major force in congressional races around the country. That probably has more to do with its political fundraising clout than its endorsements, although its says that  236 of the 276 Chamber-endorsed candidates in 2010 were elected.

The chamber was the largest spender nationwide on independent TV advertising on behalf of national candidates in 2010, according to Colby College Professor Anthony Corrado.  It's super PAC is likely one of the big-money committees watching the Maine Senate race for signs that Summers has a shot to win, something that could trigger spending on anti-Angus King television ads in Maine, according to Corrado and other experts. So far, no super PACs have been active in the Maine race.

Polls show Summers is running a distant second to independent Angus King. Also in the race are Democrat Cynthia Dill, and independents Danny Dalton, Andrew Ian Dodge and Steve Woods.

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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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