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To question about re-election of @SenatorCollins
We moved to Maine when I was 9!
Hence by many definitions, I am not "from" Maine.
Those same definitions* now mark much of greater Portland (all the way to Portsmouth!) as "not really Maine."
So grains of salt needed. Still https://twitter.com/DavidAvromBell/status/1324120305397387264
We moved to Maine when I was 9!
Hence by many definitions, I am not "from" Maine.
Those same definitions* now mark much of greater Portland (all the way to Portsmouth!) as "not really Maine."
So grains of salt needed. Still https://twitter.com/DavidAvromBell/status/1324120305397387264
2/x There's a long Maine tradition of backing "independents," of "people over party." State had a Greenback Party governor in 1880s; Longley's election as "independent" governor in 1974 provoked chuckles of disbelief from national media. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_third_party_and_independent_United_States_state_governors
3/x Maine is peripheral. Is it greater Massachusetts or New Hampshire? Really a maritime province? Whatever, it lacks the #Vermont brand.
Permanent population (1m +) is tiny. Summer population and visitors (bar pandemics) is 11-12x that!
Permanent population (1m +) is tiny. Summer population and visitors (bar pandemics) is 11-12x that!
4/x What does it take to get Maine noticed nationally?
Well-established niche is "Republicans who aren't quite":
Margaret Chase Smith. Bill Cohen. Olympia Snowe.
Collins is last of these. She was once Cohen's chief of staff! She occupies a recognized, national, ME space.
Well-established niche is "Republicans who aren't quite":
Margaret Chase Smith. Bill Cohen. Olympia Snowe.
Collins is last of these. She was once Cohen's chief of staff! She occupies a recognized, national, ME space.
5/x Gideon, in contrast, is a Democrat.
Name a Maine Democrat.
I'll wait....
Name a Maine Democrat.
I'll wait....
6/x. Right! Edmund Muskie. Name another?
Hannibal Hamlin, Dorothea Dix, James G. Blaine.... Martha Ballard (?!!).
Nope.
If you want to be "Maine" to the outside world, you gotta be Independent or GOP.
Plus Gideon is from RI and lives in... Freeport.
The horror is real.
Hannibal Hamlin, Dorothea Dix, James G. Blaine.... Martha Ballard (?!!).
Nope.
If you want to be "Maine" to the outside world, you gotta be Independent or GOP.
Plus Gideon is from RI and lives in... Freeport.
The horror is real.
7/x Jared Golden was born in Lewiston. Went to Bates. Ex-military.
Still his #ME02 was said to be the most "at risk" Dem House seat.
Pulled it out. His patter is all "people over party" and while he's claimed as Progressive, he votes w GOP more often than most House Dems.
Still his #ME02 was said to be the most "at risk" Dem House seat.
Pulled it out. His patter is all "people over party" and while he's claimed as Progressive, he votes w GOP more often than most House Dems.
8/x So I think it's about Maine voters preferring a senator who is a nationally recognized name over just another "out of stater."
But I could well be wrong! I haven't been there since summer 2019 and I am "not from around there." *
But I could well be wrong! I haven't been there since summer 2019 and I am "not from around there." *
* old (how old? "Bert and I" old) Maine joke.
Out of stater: I know I'm not from Maine. But if my kids are born here, then they're from Maine?
Mainer: ....eh.
Out of stater:
Mainer:
Out of stater:
Mainer: Cat had kittens in the oven, wouldn't call 'em biscuits.
Out of stater: I know I'm not from Maine. But if my kids are born here, then they're from Maine?
Mainer: ....eh.
Out of stater:
Mainer:
Out of stater:
Mainer: Cat had kittens in the oven, wouldn't call 'em biscuits.
True story.
Somebody working in local Indiana bank had valid reason to ask where I was from.
RLS: I'm from Maine.
She: Oh! Good for lobsters!
RLS: [swallowing]. Yes. And blueberries. Potatoes?
She: sure.
RLS: ... [ordinary business]
She: What state is Maine in?
Somebody working in local Indiana bank had valid reason to ask where I was from.
RLS: I'm from Maine.
She: Oh! Good for lobsters!
RLS: [swallowing]. Yes. And blueberries. Potatoes?
She: sure.
RLS: ... [ordinary business]
She: What state is Maine in?
