The outsiders

None of Maine’s indy candidates can win a seat in the US Senate, but they will have a say in who does

By DEIRDRE FULTON | March 5, 2008

WHO'S WHO:
Laurie Dobson of Kennebunkport
Independent |www.DobsonForSenate.com
Dobson’s platform includes ending the war in Iraq, impeaching President Bush and Vice-President Cheney, and placing a five-year moratorium on home foreclosures in the US. The 51-year-old mother of three, whose husband suffers from brain cancer, ran for Connecticut State Assembly in 2002 as a Democrat, and lost. She says she’s about halfway done collecting the 4000 signatures she needs by May to get on the ballot in November.

Herb Hoffman of Ogunquit
Independent |www.HoffmanForSenate.us
“Our country is in crisis, economically, and internationally because of the destruction we’ve done to our international reputation,” Hoffman tells the Phoenix. The former psychologist, 75, is a Dennis Kucinich campaigner; the two politicians’ ideas on ending the war, impeachment, and protecting Constitutional rights are very much in line. The father of two served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Ed Cohen of Waterville
Republican |www.TheFreedomNetwork.us/edin08
Cohen, 60, is a bit of a mystery. When the Phoenix asked him to supply us with a campaign photo, he responded by sending us nine pictures of moose in the wild. (Later he sent us some low-resolution photos, including the one seen here.) But while his personal life remains shrouded, his platform is clear: What Ron Paul said. He’s against raising taxes, against the war, and pro-impeachment. Although he used to be a Democrat (and was a Kucinich delegate in 2004), he claims that these days, “you will not find a man or woman who is more conservative than Ed Cohen.”

Tom LeDue of Springvale
Democrat |www.TomLeDue.com
LeDue, a former teacher and school administrator, grew up in Portland and now lives in Springvale with his wife and four daughters. LeDue, 44, has four (rather sweeping) major policy goals: “Empower our people. Strengthen our communities. Build a stable, sustainable economy. Assert collaborative national and international leadership.” He supports replacing American troops in Iraq with an international peacekeeping force within 12 months

Just a few months ago, the story-line of Maine’s 2008 US Senate race seemed inevitable. Republican incumbent Susan Collins would defend her seat against popular Democratic Representative Tom Allen; the two would face off about the war in Iraq, with Allen aggressively marketing himself as the anti-war, anti-Bush candidate — but his attacks would barely stick.

Having only each other to worry about, these pre-ordained duelers would continue their unfettered fundraising (by the end of 2007, they already had a combined $7.5 million in the bank, according to Federal Election Commission reports). Nationally, bloggers and party activists would persist in seeing this contest as a battle between bigwigs for a vulnerable Republican senate seat — and Collins, who’s led in early polls, would ultimately keep her seat.

But over the past couple of months, the political landscape has changed dramatically. Between December 2007 and February, four non-establishment candidates tossed their names into the ring. Their presence could rewrite parts of this election narrative — not by changing the race’s outcome, but by changing its route.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | next >

Topics: News Features , U.S. Government, U.S. State Government, Bowdoin College, More

| More

Most Popular

The Current Issue

Table of Contents

Cover Archive

Masthead | Authors | Contact us

Blogs

Where To Follow Me
Talking Politics | March 24, 2013 at 11:09 AM

Mo Takes His Turn
March 21, 2013 at 12:59 PM

[Q&A] KMFDM's Sascha Konietzko on art, Columbine and having balls
On The Download | March 18, 2013 at 3:22 PM

See this film series: The Belmont World Film Series @ Studio Cinema in Belmont
Outside The Frame | March 18, 2013 at 11:00 AM

See this film: This is Spinal Tap [with post-film talk by expert from Acoustical Society of America] @ the Coolidge
March 17, 2013 at 12:00 PM

ARTICLES BY DEIRDRE FULTON

MAINE WOMEN’S FUND AWARDEES ARE BUILDING A NEW WORLD | May 16, 2013
On the surface, they have little in common: An unassuming entrepreneur in her late 50s, an accomplished 38-year-old photojournalist, and a trio of energetic teenagers. But these women do exhibit several shared traits. They are plucky and passionate, clever and unpretentious. They are Mainers. And all five will be honored next Thursday, May 23, at the Maine Women's Fund's annual Leadership Luncheon, which honors those who are making life better for women and girls in this state and beyond.

UNION BATTLES CONTINUE | May 16, 2013
An update on the state employees' union's dispute with the governor, plus union organizers' plans for medical-marijuana workers.

LET IT GROW | May 09, 2013
In addition to its ecological value, the abundant marine resource is also worth money — millions of pounds of rockweed are harvested every year.

LEGISLATURE WADES THROUGH HUNDREDS OF PROPOSALS | May 09, 2013
Want to know what your elected officials are mulling over? Here is a subjective selection of bills that piqued our interest.

LABORERS MAY HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE | May 03, 2013
Even as the organized-labor movement continues to falter on the national level, union leaders here in Maine are optimistic about a potential resurgence — or if not that, at least a stanching of the bleeding and an opportunity to prove that pro-union policies are best for local workers and communities.