Ex-Attorney General Steve Rowe has organization, endorsements, commitment, and intelligence. If only he weren't duller than Peter Mills.
Senate President Libby Mitchell is filled with concern about the economic suffering — of state employees. That should play well in the hinterlands.
John Richardson, until recently the state commissioner of economic development, has all McGowan's minuses and none of his pluses. He'll also have to compete with Mitchell in pandering for the support of organized labor.
Rosa Scarcelli, a developer of low-income housing, has money and big-name advisors who've told her to play the outsider role for all it's worth. In a Democratic primary, that won't be much.
Rowe will win if he finds an image that doesn't scream "tedious policy wonk." McGowan could pull an upset if he manages his money perfectly, although financial management doesn't seem to be a strength of the Baldacci administration.
Green Independent Lynne Williams is assured of her party's nomination by virtue of being the only contender. Can she get enough votes in the fall to maintain the Green's official party status? Probably not.
Independent Eliot Cutler has cash and some influential backers, but his efforts to attract moderates of all types won't go anywhere if he doesn't stop campaigning like he was trying to cure sleep deprivation.
I think it'll come down to Abbott and Rowe in November, with the Republican taking the Blaine House by a narrow margin, thanks to Cutler and Williams siphoning votes from the Democrat.
There, the field is down to one.
If I'm wrong, I don't want to hear about it at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
