Democrat Cynthia Dill is trying to show she has momentum in the race for Maine’s open U.S. Senate seat. Republicans are pushing that line, too, as they try to piece together a narrative about former independent Gov. Angus King losing steam in his bid to replace departing Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe.
Dill, a state senator from Cape Elizabeth, trotted out a fundraising appeal from former Gov. John Baldacci on Aug. 16 and followed it up with a news release claiming that she has support from other big names in Maine’s Democratic party, including U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud, state Sen. Phil Bartlett and former Maine State Housing Authority director Dale McCormick.
Dill’s campaign also said endorsements from other big name Democrats are “in the pipeline,” an attempt to dispel the notion that Democrats have largely opted to support King over her.
The campaign on Tuesday announced endorsements from the Maine State Employees Association SEIU Local 1989, a union that represents state employees and public service workers, and the Maine State Nurses Association. Dill scheduled appearances with active and retired state workers on Thursday. She also planned a Thursday visit to nonprofit organizations that work with women and children in the Waterville area.
“If you vote for me, you know what you get,” Dill said in an Aug. 17 interview, referring King’s frequent statements that he hasn’t decided whether he’ll caucus with Senate Democrats or Republicans. “I tell you exactly where I stand and why. A vote for me is not taking anything on blind faith.”
Meanwhile, Republicans pointed to Baldacci’s appeal on Dill’s behalf as a sign that Democrats are dropping their support for King.
In an Aug. 17 email to supporters, Lance Dutson, Republican Senate candidate Charlie Summers’ campaign manager, wrote that Democrats are “jumping ship” and deciding not to support King.
“Clearly, the weaker [Dill] is, the better it is for Angus,” said Ethan Strimling, a former Democratic state senator and political analyst for the Bangor Daily News and WCSH-6 TV. “If she stays really low, it makes it advantageous for King.”
The discussions about Dill’s momentum follow the release of an internal poll conducted by the Republican polling firm Moore Consulting and obtained by Strimling and fellow BDN blogger Phil Harriman that shows a lower level of support for King than previous surveys have shown. The Summers campaign paid for the poll, according to Dutson.
The survey, conducted Aug. 5 and 6, put King’s support at 46 percent. The latest public poll, conducted by the Portland firm Critical Insights in late June, showed King with 55 percent support.
Crystal Canney, communications director for King’s campaign, said the two polls do not offer a fair comparison because they come from separate sources that don’t share the same methodology.
Kay Rand, King’s campaign manager, said that the campaign’s internal research showed an initial shift from support for King and Summers to “undecided” after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sponsored ads critical of King during telecasts of the Olympic Games in late July and early August. “However, that movement is back in terms of where our candidate is,” she said Wednesday.
Ultimately, the “ads did not move the needle” in terms of support for King, Rand said. “We are comfortable with where [King] is positioned in the race.”
Rand declined to share the King campaign’s internal research.
If Dill is picking up some of King’s momentum, it isn’t obvious. The Moore Consulting poll put her support level at 8 percent. In June, two public surveys, by Critical Insights and by the Boston-based MassINC Polling Group, agreed with that poll, finding 7 percent and 9 percent support for Dill respectively.
“She faces the unique challenge of having another candidate in the race that a lot of people in her party are planning to vote for or are supporting already,” said MassINC Polling Group president Steve Koczela.
She’s also challenged by the fact that she’s still not known to many Maine voters.
The MassINC survey, conducted June 13 and 14, found that 29 percent of voters had formed either a favorable or unfavorable opinion of her, meaning the remainder had either no opinion of her or hadn’t heard of her. Nearly two months later, the Moore Consulting poll produced a similar number: 27 percent of voters had either a favorable or unfavorable view of her.
Dill said she’s on the campaign trail meeting voters, but conceded she’s still not known to many.
“The most important poll is in November,” she said. “Between now and then, there’s a lot of work to do, and I’m happy to do it.”
The fall will offer Dill a number of opportunities to introduce herself to Maine’s electorate, she said.
“There’s still plenty of time for me to meet voters, and there’s going to be a series of debates,” she said. “When there are, people will start paying attention and it will be more about the choices and the issues and less about advertisements and some of this other stuff.”
There’s no doubt it will be difficult to overcome low name recognition and her rivals’ large fundraising advantage, according to Strimling.
“What’s good for Dill is only 30 percent of the people have an opinion about her,” he said. “She has a tremendous upside because people don’t know her yet. She really has an opportunity to introduce herself.
“The downside is she needs significant money to do that.”
The endorsements and other recent progress cited are big steps in Dill’s favor. It remains to be seen to what degree they will be able to be leveraged.
““If you vote for me, you know what you get,” Dill said in an Aug. 17 interview”
Another lawyer that moved here to be a big fish in a small pond???
Dill’s Dough must be running low.
As for Angus, please. He’s no more an independent than Bernie Sanders. Angus is the tool of the Wind Companies and his own ego. He’s in love with his own image.
Aren’t we all??? Even “god” was created in our own image…
“Dill’s Dough must be running low”. Perhaps its time to call Quimby..
Momentum? Thanks for the chuckle…
Same here. I do love a good work of fiction.
I think Dill would make a great Senator. The Dems I speak with like her and claim they are voting for her.. I think this is another case of media bias and that the numbers are slanted.. Dill will represent the people who elect her. People know that Angus has an agenda and it doesn’t include them. Summers is well you figure it out.
The media has a republican conservative bias? Really?????
Her priorities are misplaced. She stated that the first thing she will do when elected is to dive headfirst into supporting gay marriage. Her priorities are not mine. Work and lower taxes would be preferable in my book. Dill for Senate? Thanks but no thanks.
Perhaps she could try and garner votes from closet polygamists. It can’t hurt.
Before this election season most had never heard of her..
As a liberal Democrat, I find it very disturbing that my fellow democrats will not support our party’s candidate.
We have an unprecedented chance to send a genuine liberal to the senate.
But instead my party is embracing a right-leaning moderate who won’t declare which party he will caucus with. Indeed Angus supported and voted for George W. Bush!
I view this perplexing situation as a lost opportunity to send to congress someone who fully embraces liberal ideals instead of the same old worn out bs.
I certainly do not expect conservatives or Republicans to find Dill to be a serious candidate.
But it is hugely disappointing to this Democrat to see that our party doesn’t have the courage to vote their collective conscious and support our party’s candidate.
I don’t like Dill but even less do I like King. But alas, I’m voting Republican.
Strange world. Some prefer the lies and hypocrisy of the tea party – strangled republican party.
One step away from poverty, sanity dictates I support someone who will support the middle of the roaders, the poor, and those too sick to take care of themselves.
A once proud and conservative republican party is dead. Now we have two radicals aided by other radicals, threatening to make criminals out of women who have abortions after being raped. Now, republicans have created an appendix to Webster-Merriam. They have many versions of rape. And, they say some rapes do not result in pregnancies.
Radical Romney and Ryan will kill off Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. They water down their assertions when questioned. Then, like Le Page, offer either a tepid apology of sorts, or, what they meant to say. Now they’re trying to get one their major radicals to quit his race to the Senate because of his opinion about rape. Yet,both Romney and Ryan supported Akin when he first proposed his bill. They still do, but are trying to gloss over their attempts to destroy women’s rights.
The pickles in Washington are sour. We need a Dill to sweeten them up.
nice response, but you are still wrong.
Wrong? Are you a judge – state, federal, or, Supreme Court? How can I be wrong if you’re so right? Opinion is always open to opinion – that’s all.
Not all dems are liberal. I have been a democrat all my life but I don’t buy into the new liberal wing of the party. Some of the social issues dredged up by the liberals is disgusting to me. That’s I am voting for a more moderate independant candidate, Angus King.
I too have been a Dem all my life – more than 40 years. I don’t know what you mean by the “new liberal wing”. As far as I’m concerned, the Democratic Party has gotten way more conservative during my lifetime. Indeed statistics bear this out.
Also would you please identify the “social issues dredged up by Dems” that you find disgusting?
I’m just curious.
Thanks for your reply.
Well I have lived here nearly 35 years and the Democrat Party in Maine hasn’t changed at all
It is still an Ultra-Left Wing Socialist style party. A party that doesn’t believe in it’s people can be all they can be. They talk like they care about us and just do the opposite by voting in policies that hurt us. The Liberals here in Maine think we all have to be “taken care” of by being on Welfare and have a Nanny State that restricts the way we live our lives.
The fact is Democrats only care about being in power and find every way they can to stay there. If they return to power they intend to give us a “Super-Sized” version of the past agenda that failed Maine and its people.
No one has hurt the State of Maine and its people more than Paul Le Page. Bought and paid for by the Koch brothers who seek control of the country through their yucky tea party ideologies.
Le Page, like his compatriots in DC has blocked programs that have been approved by voters. Yet he freely condemns the vote and refuses to honor the citizens of this state. Talk about socialism? Sounds more like some Marxist-controlled Chairman who makes the decisions approved by the Koch Politburo. Ultra Left Democrats my foot.
This “Nanny State” jazz is imported from Walker and other governors who also bash workers and attack unions. Their warfare spreads to teachers, fire fighters and police. All state workers and anyone else, except the privileged few with enormous tax breaks.
In our state nepotism dosen’t exist for a governor who overlooks qualified applicants for jobs and appoints members of his own family.
Romney and Ryan will have women imprisoned for having an abortion. Or, executed, all depending on the laws of each state. Ultra Left? What a laugh. Sounds more like Iraq and Afghanistan.
Please stop, I am embarrassed for you!
I am a liberal Democrat.
I will vote for who I think the best candidate is, regardless of party.
Please don’t expect me to vote for a liberal Democrat, if the liberal Democrat running isn’t up to the job. Same goes for you, conservative Republicans.
Angus King has my vote this year.
I don’t “expect” you to vote for any particular candidate.
I was merely expressing my hopes that Democrats would consider to vote for our party’s nominee.
And I apologize if I offend you, but if you are voting for Angus, it’s hard to believe you are “liberal”.
Fair enough. :-) No offense intended, or taken. :-)
I’m a liberal. But I’m able to think for myself, and in this case, I don’t think the Democratic Party is running the best candidate.
Why not vote like a smart voter and support the CANDIDATE that best represents you. This vote party line BS ( that’s bull manure ) is what’s got this country into trouble in the first place. As far as Dill is concerned , she has been bought and paid for with Roxanne Quimby money and will stuff a national park down the throats of northern Mainer’s if elected !
It is impossible to be a liberal democrat and to think for oneself. .I can’t happen. will never happen. Liberal Democrats are clustered like atoms and all have a single purpose. I would revisit that thought. I myself am a teaparty Democratic, which makes sense because I would like to restore personal freedoms to the people.
“I can’t happen.”
I wish you hadn’t.
Perhaps all these classifications are the problem, and we should all just think of ourselves as human, one large group of people who are responsible for and to ourselves…And each other…
Could I posit that conservative Repubs are clustered like atoms and have their thinking driven totally by Faux News and Trash Slimebaugh and the Koch Brothers? Stop tarring with a brush, Push … I just did and it doesn’t make any more sense than do you!
That’s why I used “liberal” small-l, not Liberal-capital-L. I’m content enough to know I’m a liberal. I don’t feel tied to any particular group/cause or party.
After all, you don’t find to many Liberals who support the 2nd Amendment, and believe in an individuals right town own firearms. (they exist, but there aren’t many of us.)
Another Merriam,-Webster interpreter.
Must also support the Romney-Ryan-Aiken interpretation of rape. Personal freedom to the people. You’re with the right crew. If elected, more women will be imprisoned and possibly executed – depending on state laws – all because of terminating a pregnancy.
That’s freedom for the people?
Under Lord Koch, you will be subservient to the masters. You must enjoy the Le Page regime, equally as much as the Bush-Cheney disaster that created the second greatest recession in American history.
Romney and Ryan will kill off chances of any young person obtaining Social Security in their later years. And, Ryanm God Bless Him, will give you all a $25 Voucher to visit the doctor. He and Mitt, besides being millionaires, will take full advantage of government provided health care the size of which makes Obamacare look like a co-pay.
I laugh at the thought that Dill is the best the liberals here in Maine can run. Angus King is beatable when the bloom comes off his so called independent label and he’s exposed as the First Wind fraud that he is. And I will laugh when Summer’s wins and you liberals split the vote….again.
“We have an unprecedented chance to send a genuine liberal to the senate”.
The Maine people have had enough of “genuine liberals” they have seen the damage of 40 years of “genuine liberal” rule in Maine. Our economy is in the dumps, welfare is out of control, we have massive budget shortfalls every year , education and infrastructure is a mess. We also have two genuine liberals in congress in Chellie and Mumbles Michaud who have done nothing but vote 100% of the time with Obama-Biden-Pelosi-Reid-Debbie Wasserman-Schultz agenda. An agenda which has lowered our credit ratings, put us more than $16 trillion in debt.
4 years of 8% or higher unemployment and more than 70 million not paying taxes and on welfare. I think the choice is clear in November by not electing one of the two “genuine liberals” by electing Charlie Summers this election. We don’t need any more of the damage they have caused.
Where do you get “40 years of liberal rule in Maine?”
Not one republican served during 40 years? Not one republican said anything? Not one republican pushed through a bill? Not one republican took to the floor of the House or Senate to oppose anything, or, anyone?
In other words – the republicans did zilch during “those 40 years of liberal rule in Maine?”
Sounds like Koch propaganda as circulated through the radical Murdoch mediocrity chain.
Since 1967, Republicans have held the governorship for 9 1/2 years. Democrats have held the governorship for 24 years, and independents have been governor for 12 years. In the minds of conservatives, King may have been liberal (8 years), but I don’t think Longley (4 years) would be considered liberal. So give conservatives 13 1/2 years, liberals (arguably) 24 years, and middle of the road 8 years.
The fact is that most of Maine is Independent. Slavish loyalty to a party should not be in any New Englanders make up. Evaluate the individual, and make your choice.
King is the obvious answer.
Dill, it is over, regardless of how many kook ideas you suddenly say you support. Angus has this wrapped up. At this very moment, he is dispatching a team of crack interior decorators to DC to prepare his office.
sad but probably true.
…AND…Partisan bickering in 3…2…1…
I truly hope that Dill is right. I can’t stand the woman and her liberal positions and priorities. BUT, King is a fence-sitting opportunist who will not stand up under much scrutiny.
Democrats…what’s wrong with you? You get a made-for-primetime Liberal, a Liberal through and through. You have exactly what you’ve created.
Why don’t you throw your support behind one of your own?
Once bitten, twice shy. Democrats stuck, somewhat, with Elizabeth Mitchell and ended up with Paul LePage as governor, and that’s been a disaster. They don’t want to make the same mistake again.
Liberal positions and policies? Whose radical right wing policies do you favor?
Dill’s up against a Donkey Machine that has bet on King, and wants to woo King because when he wins he might well have the vast power of a swing vote, able to sway the fate of Congressional legislation.
It’s the safest road for the Dems, since King is more popular than Dill, and he might take offense if the Dems back her instead of him, and vote accordingly–when he wins.
Welcome to politics.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
Earth to Cynthia you are not above 10% which is all that you will poll on election day. Time to say thanks for the memories and end your run before your last place finish sends you into political oblivion.
Im impressed, a few posters said they dont vote party line…….Good… But isn’t King really a Democrat disguised as an Independent????
The unsavory Dill and Don Quixote de La King have much in common, in that both have had to resort to one of the oldest professions known to mankind to thread their way through life. And yet, “from so little sleeping and so much[ politicking], it appears… [plausible that their] brains have dried up… and [each of them are literally] out of their minds…”
Dill is not gaining traction. She will be lucky to get 9% of the vote. She is radical left – we north of the Bangor line don’t like what she has to say.
If she’s “Radical left,” you must be “Radical Right?” Which is the best of these two categories?
We can all take numbers, but the only ones that matter ultimately will happen on the day of election. Just sayin…
She was misquoted. What she said was that after November she’s going to be postmortem.
Let me see if I can follow this. Dill finally has some Democratic support and that shows that support for King is dropping? So is King supposed to have 100% of Democratic support and any less shows weakening? Who comes up with this kind of logic. In the last professional and fully independent poll King had the support of 55% of Democrats statewide. That is absolutely unprecedented. By the way, the Moore poll should not be mentioned in any credible discussion without 1) mentioning that Moore is Summer’s polling firm, and 2) someone actually seeing the poll and knowing when the King question was asked, how it was asked, and whether it was first ‘pushed’ to get those numbers.
Angus. He’s the man.
It’s easy to gain momentum when you’re going down hill!
I’ve been volunteering by doing phone polling. Most respondents I speak with favor Angus King because of the name recognition. I can’t claim my results have any scientific validity beyond being a random sample. Most people who vote straight down the party line say they’ll vote for Dill. Yet there are quite a few who tell me they’re making an exception by voting for King.
Tom Allen, Libby Mitchell, anybody remember them? Super liberal Portland democrats can’t win statewide elections. I think Matt Dunlap would have had a much better shot. Democrat doesn’t automatically mean far-left liberal.