Maine: Beth Edmonds

[img_assist|nid=2717|title=Women for Obama|desc=State Sen. Libby Mitchell (D-Vassalboro) speaks at a Maine Women for Obama lunch. Campaign photo.|link=none|align=left|width=400|height=300]

Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama’s Maine campaign announced its “Maine Women for Obama” group today.

The group is headed by outgoing Senate President Beth Edmonds (D-Freeport) and state Sen. Libby Mitchell (D-Vassalboro).

[img_assist|nid=2254|title=The Blaine House|desc=Speculation is far and wide as to who will live here after 2010. Politicker photo.|link=none|align=left|width=420|height=315]The list of those speculated to run for governor in 2010 is wide and far-reaching. During a special session Wednesday, PolitickerME had a chance to catch up with a number of state senators on the list.

When asked, most of them remained mum on their ambitions.

The Center for Responsive Politics found this week that while many perceive John McCain as the candidate backed by the oil companies, Barack Obama gets his share as well.

The center found that of the two major party candidates, McCain benefits the most from the industry itself, however Obama gets more from individual donors who are employees of the largest companies in the industry.

Click here for a previous report on the issue.

In the last legislative session, state lawmakers approved measures that made it 30 percent harder for candidates for governor to qualify for public financing. They also required all gubernatorial candidates to be audited by the Ethics Commission.