RNC pulls Maine TV ads
10/16/08 | 9 comments
campaign 2008

RNC pulls Maine TV ads


Decision reached on eve of Palin visit
By Eric Russell
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY BRIDGET BROWN
Dustin Worcester (lower left) of Old Town and Corey Boguen of Belfast, both working for Stage Rentals LLC, work to set up lighting inside Hangar 11 at Bangor International Airport on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008 in preparation for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's visit today. Doors to the event open at 8 a.m. and Palin is scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. Buy Photo

BANGOR, Maine — On the eve of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s scheduled visit to Bangor, the Republican National Committee announced it was pulling presidential ads from both Wisconsin and Maine.

While the move appears contrary to the Sen. John McCain campaign’s insistence that the Pine Tree State and its four electoral votes are in play, at the very least it could put more pressure on Palin’s visit, pundits say.

“In reality, Maine should be the least of their concerns after having to now defend all these previously safe states for him,” said Mark Brewer, a political scientist at the University of Maine. “Her visit is still important, though, because it’s not only the people that go see her, it’s the free media that comes with it. In that way, it’s a way to get more coverage without spending more money.”

Palin is scheduled to address an anticipated crowd of thousands at about 10 a.m. today inside Hangar 11 at Bangor International Airport. The “Road to Victory” rally is open only to valid ticket-holders, who will be allowed entrance beginning at 8 a.m.

The Alaska governor’s visit comes as Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has begun to pull away from McCain in many national and battleground state polls as the days before Election Day dwindle.

The RNC announced Wednesday afternoon it was focusing advertising dollars on more traditional “red” states in the final three weeks before the election. Those states include Colorado, Missouri, Indiana and Virginia, where Obama is showing strength.

Obama is outspending the joint advertising efforts of the Republican Party and the McCain campaign by more than 2-1.

Palin, who held a rally Wednesday in New Hampshire, will try to generate support in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District today with the hope Republicans can peel away one electoral vote — or perhaps win the whole state.

Maine is one of only two states that splits its electoral votes by congressional district, and the 2nd District is generally considered more conservative.

“It seems to me that the McCain campaign has bigger worries than trying to win one, or even four, electoral votes in Maine,” Brewer said.

In Bangor on Wednesday afternoon, a local crew from Bronson Stage Rentals LLC already had begun the process of setting up for Palin’s visit inside the expansive airport hangar. Aluminum stadium-type seating flanked one side of the 35,000-square-foot hangar, while a carpet-covered stage and black curtain loomed at one end.

U.S. Secret Service agents closed the hangar at 4 p.m. Wednesday to conduct a security sweep. The facility will be monitored throughout the evening as well.

Michael Magalski, resident agent in charge of the Portland office of the U.S. Secret Service, said details about protection and security for events are not made public.

“I can tell you that we work with all local police agencies and fire departments to make sure the environment is safe,” he said.

Any anticipated protestors will be dealt with in accordance with state law, Magalski said.

Already, the Maine Democratic Party and the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine have announced counterrallies to correspond with Palin’s visit.

Maine Obama supporters are expected to line Godfrey Boulevard near the airport entrance from 7:30 to 9 a.m. today. The Peace & Justice Center’s “Focus on the Issues Vigil” will begin at 7:30 a.m. along Union Street across from the main entrance to BIA.

BIA Director Rebecca Hupp, whose staff was coordinating with McCain campaign staff and secret service, said the event is not expected to have an impact on airport operations.

Political leaders have not been strangers to Bangor in recent election years.

President George W. Bush addressed crowds of supporters before the 2000 and 2004 elections. Democratic vice presidential candidates Joe Lieberman and John Edwards also made trips to Bangor in 2000 and 2004, respectively.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

erussell@bangordailynews.net

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Comments
9 comments on this item
On 10/16/08 at 1:44 AM, Johninphilippines wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The quote from Mark Brewer of the UM, is one of the only people at the UM that has made any sense to me in this campaign so far. Maine has only 4 electoral votes to consider...and ads spent in "battleground" states seem to be where the emphasis is, considering these states hold more electoral votes. That's where Obama is going...(McCain, also) for the states where those "electoral" votes are highest. That's how Bill Clinton won. No longer, the popular vote is in vogue. Too bad. The "electoral college" is an old-time indirect system of voting for the President or VP; the people of each state officially vote not only for the Presidential candidate, but for a listing of electors nominated by each party. The whole electoral college vote of the state then goes to the winning party (and candidate). A majority is required to be elected. If Obama is spending almost 100 million dollars...just where, in God's name...do you think all this money is coming from...with respect to the money already spent for his campaign previous to this! Now, here comes the Maine Peace and Justice Center hippies. Ask them if the Democrats were going to be in Bangor...would they be outside waving their little signs around? You 'bet'cha. They'd be there allright! They would protest their mother's false teeth if they could. we will see just how this visit by Palin will shake-out. This is the big story of the year, I guess.

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On 10/16/08 at 4:12 AM, mainefem wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/mehome

GoooooooooooBama!

http://tinyurl.com/56xa84

Pulled out of LA, too.

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On 10/16/08 at 7:49 AM, mrclam wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

By campaigning in Maine, McCain proves again that he is a poor leader, man of small intellect, and a tactical retard. He's just the guy we don't need. I really can't imagine any job that this grinning hatemonger could fill. I'm certain he has the beginnings of Alzheimer's disease; he acts just like my father, who has had it for awhile. Angry. Illogical. John McCain.

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On 10/16/08 at 9:37 AM, RocklandPhil wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This is why when we complain about the Electoral College and say it should be abolished, we should carefully consider this: if there is no Electoral College, only the national popular vote determines the winner, the candidates will concentrate on the twenty-five largest states, spend some time in the next ten states (as a buffer and /or safe zone), and ignore the fifteen smallest states. States like Maine would become irrelevant in a Presidential race. Our vote would not matter, and we may as well not even have the Presidential candidates listed on the ballots. Furthemore, the content of the platforms of the Presidential candidates would be aimed towards the citizens on the top twenty-five states: their wants, their needs, their hopes and dreams, tailored to fit their vision of what the USA should be, based on their perception of our role in foreign affairs, world cop, world breadbasket. The smaller states, like Maine, would not even be in the equation. We would officially be a governemnt of 'superior' states and 'inferior' states. 'Inferior' states equal 'second class citizens'.

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On 10/16/08 at 9:42 AM, PUMAman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

>mrclam wrote:

>I'm certain he has the beginnings of Alzheimer's disease;

>he acts just like my father, who has had it for awhile. Angry. Illogical. John McCain.

Hopefully, your father will one day be unable to recall what an utter failure you are. A "man" who attacks his own father in public. What a disappointment you must be to everyone. He must suffer every time he looks at you. Maybe one day he won't recognize you. And then you'll see him smiling a lot more.

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On 10/16/08 at 9:58 AM, readtome wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

PUMAman, I'd love to shake your hand!

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On 10/16/08 at 10:20 AM, Tikitorch wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

PUMAman.... Great comment.... and I add... so if Sen McCain is an idiot to campain in Maine (we are still a state in the union) then are we idiots for living here...... I think Mr Clam is just a plain idiot!

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On 10/16/08 at 12:09 PM, Thinkaboutit wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Has anyone noticed that JOE PERRY is running the exact same add for re election that he ran 4 years ago..saying the same old thing - I want to work for you - Blah - Blah - Blah..He deceitful ad's on tv .. trying to mislead the voting public the he is sincere and sending a false message that is over 4 years old..Maine citizens...don't be fooled by a career politician. If the best he can do is run 4 year old adds with the same old message .. essentially lying to the public..Well I say..I'm fed up with Career Politicians that are DISHONEST with the PEOPLE of Maine..VOTE OUT JOE PERRY FOR BEING DECEITFUL. We need new leadership!!! SHAME ON YOU JOE PERRY !!!!

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On 10/16/08 at 6:37 PM, glenna wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I thought McCain's "grin" during last night's debate was harsh - hard, as thought forced, controlled anger. I'm sure his debate coachs have told him to try to maintain a "friendly face" (not so sure I saw that face as "friendly", but did anyone else hear the slip when the moderator was moving away from one question and said the next one would be about the environment. McCain jumped the gun and his mike caught "Oh yes, Global Warming." - Before the question was even asked. I found myself thinking that "global warming" was the Key Word McCain had been coached to use if the environment was brought up as an issue question.

I'm not so sure McCain doesn't have early signs of Alzheimer's. He gets in a rut and can't get out - repeats himself as though he can't remember anything else - and then gets confused when challenged by conflicting facts or information. Remember how Joe Lierberman had to correct McCain re: Sunni and Sheite (I probably spelled it wrong, so I apologize up front) which is whyI get so concerned about Palin. She's definitely NOT qualified to step into the Presidency!

Back to the issue of why campaign in Maine - It USED to be that Maine's PRIMARY was the first in the nation - which is why there USED to be the slogan: "As Maine Goes, So Goes The Nation".... Which also had something to do with Dirigo being the Maine motto. But Maine doesn't have a Primary anymore (and who's got an entire day to waste going to a caucas??? not to mention people who work on Saturdays??? but that's another issue, too) and when was the last time Maine lead in anything except being one of the poorest states and one of the highest taxed states - which we can thank the Maine Democratic Party for (No, Thank You)... which is why I will be voting for Republicans to go to Augusta (would LOVE to see more Independents) but I'll be voting for Obama/Biden and Collins to go to Washington D.C.... So how I'm registered really has nothing to do with how I think obviously. I'm really an Independent and wish we were a Primary state.

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