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

A new social media campaign that will use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other outlets to rally young pro-gay-marriage supporters launched in four states today, including Maine.

The Four 2012 was co-founded by Brian Ellner, a longtime gay rights supporter who helped pass gay marriage in New York last year, according to a press release from the group.

"It's Facebook and Twitter meets Rock the Vote for marriage equality," he said in a statement. "We want to energize young pro-equality voters in the Google age."

Voters in Maine, Minnesota, Maryland and Washington state will consider same-sex marriage on Nov. 6. The Four released a new video today that uses the song "We are Young" by the indie-pop group fun. Yesterday, fun. announced that it was going to donate proceeds from a Portland concert in October to gay-marriage supporters in Maine.

The Four hopes supporters will share material with their friends through social media and that they will create their own videos to share with others. The group says it has $200,000 to spend and wants to raise additional money that will be donated directly to campaigns in the four states.

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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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