On Maine Politics

Larry J. Sabato, director of
University of Virginia Center for Politics, recently updated his
Crystal Ball list of governor's races for 2010, and Maine is in the
toss-up category.

 Republicans in Piscataquis County  -- the only county out of 66 in New England to support McCain/Palin in 2008 -- will gather Sunday for a 2 p.m. caucus in Dover-Foxcroft.

 EqualityMaine, the state's largest lesbian and gay lobbying organization, is asking supporters to send e-mails to Sen.

 Lynne Williams, a Green Independent running for governor, announced today that she will not participate in the state's Clean Election program for a variety of reasons.

 Mary J. Herman, wife of former Gov. Angus King, has launched a new consulting firm specializing in growth strategies and help for businesses and nonprofits, she announced Monday.

 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rosa Scarcelli thinks Maine should require mandatory criminal background checks on the purchase of firearms.

 The League of Women Voters of Maine released a study Friday that shows most money given to candidate Political Action Committees in Maine come from businesses and corporations.

 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Rowe just put out a statement saying he supports raising the cigarette tax rather than cutting services for the elderly and families.

The National Organization for Marriage, the biggest backer of the Yes on 1 campaign to overturn the state's gay-marriage law, is asking the state to delay an investigation into the group's fundraising activities.

File this in the oops department.