Endorsement Race Continues
Pine Tree Politics recently reported that Bruce Poliquin had received an endorsement for governor from Rep. Tyler Clark (R-Easton). As of today, Clark is one of the very few Republican legislators to publicly support a candidate. Additionally, Peter Anastos, an owner of the Maine Course Hospitality Group and founder of Anastos and Nadeau, a housing development company has endorsed Poliquin for governor. “Bruce has navigated our complex regulatory system and dealt first-hand with the bureaucracy,” said Anastos. “Most importantly, Bruce knows that you can’t spend more money than you take in – a primary reason why Bruce has been successful in business. I support Bruce’s candidacy for Governor because his experience will bring good jobs to Maine and move our state toward a more prosperous future.”
As Matt Gagnon has noted, unless endorsements are from well-established, big names, they do little to help a candidate. These early endorsements are unlikely to change hearts or minds, but they are a sign that the endorsement game is underway for the Republicans.
The Democrats already began the endorsement race. Early on Steve Rowe grabbed an endorsement from the Downeast Pride Alliance. Later in October, former Senate President Beth Edmonds began stumping for Rowe. This fall the Women Under Forty Political Action Committee gave their support to Rosa Scarcelli in the gubernatorial race.
After the final gubernatorial candidates have entered the race we will likely begin to see more endorsements come in.
One angle I'd add to your and Matt's commentary is that Bruce Poliquin is a political outsider. It's not as if the state legislators endorsing him are colleagues or old friends. Rather, he's won them over recently. That's pretty impressive, since it's not easy to gain a legislator's support in a wide open primary when there are potential repercussions for backing the wrong person. Indicative of Bruce being a strong, compelling candidate in my opinion.
I believe one of the compelling reasons Tyler Clark (R-Easton) has endorsed Bruce Poliquin is Bruce seems to have a real compassion for our citizens of Aroostock County as evidence in his two previous campaign visits to the Houlton and Presque Isle area with a third visit planned for this Saturday. The folks in the county believe in his message and realize he has strong business and leadership skills, and can change this state from a tax and spend atmosphere to one that creates jobs and reduces taxes. These people are self reliant, hard working individuals that know if someone is just blowing smoke at them. Tyler Clark will not regret his endorsement
Bruce will recieve many more endorsements from both the business and the political world
because he is a man of great intrgrity.
Bruce will certainly receive more endorsements in the coming months. His message, energy and passion for the state will be sure to attract more positive attention.