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These days Democrats are quite critical of party leaders and establishment party support for Gov. Janet Mills arguably hurt her U.S. Senate campaign. Thus it’s puzzling and I think wrong that the Washington, D.C.-based campaign arm for House Democrats decided to endorse anyone before the Maine 2nd Congressional District primary.
Having been anointed by D.C. insiders, Joe Baldacci looks like the choice of big donors rather than grassroots Democrats, some of whom asked Matt Dunlap to challenge Rep. Jared Golden. Dunlap received support from many donors, so that at the end of March he had $244,254.60 in cash on hand, about $100,000 more than Baldacci. Moreover, Baldacci’s total included $35,500 he loaned to his campaign. Now the D.C. party is putting its finger and funds on the scale to help Baldacci.
Dunlap has stood up to both President Donald Trump and his own party. I believe his political courage, along with his extensive community activities and political experience as a state legislator, secretary of state and state auditor makes him the best candidate at a time voters don’t want legislators who look beholden to leaders in Washington.
National party groups should have learned to leave Mainers alone and not tell them who they should back.
Amy Fried
Bangor