Chellie Pingree

Editor’s note: PolitickerME.com has attempted to break down the state Senate races. Click here for a comprehensive overview, and on the following links for a closer look at the three tossup races – Senate District 1, Senate District 15 and Senate District 22.

Senate District 22

OPEN SEAT: David Miramant (D-Camden) vs. Christopher Rector (R-Thomaston)

PolitickerME.com rating: Tossup

The candidates:

Campaign Photo

Tom Allen

The Portland Phoenix, an alternative weekly paper, has released their endorsements for state and national races, but chose not to make one in the U.S. Senate race between Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) and U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland).

The Phoenix editorial staff wrote that they were unable to line up meetings with either candidate. They also accused the Allen campaign of playing a, “bizarre and sleazy game,” for trying to dictate the terms of an interview.

Campaign spokeswoman Carol Andrews told the Phoenix that Allen would only meet with them if they promised not to meet with independent write-in candidate Herb Hoffman.

Below: Slideshow of Summers' visit to Gorham 

GORHAM – First Congressional District candidate Charlie Summers (R-Scarborough) is working hard and moving fast. He said he’s up at 4:30 a.m. each day to start campaigning, and is out until 11:30 p.m. on a daily basis.

He faces Chellie Pingree (D-North Haven).

“We’re just pushing, pushing, pushing…” he said.

Monday afternoon he campaigned in Gorham, dropping in on businesses and lunch spots. Leaving no stone unturned, he greeted people at their cars if their windows were open or walking down the street.

UPDATE OCT. 25, 10:50 a.m.: Comments from Maine GOP chairman Mark Ellis – see below.

In an interview with Salon.com, Maine author Stephen King said the comparisons between President Richard Nixon’s campaigns and current Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s campaigns are “just depressing”. He said he drew the conclusion after reading the book “Nixonland”.

The interview was done in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of his novel “The Stand,” his most popular book about an end-of-the-world scenario where a flu virus is released from a U.S. military facility and wipes out almost all of the world’s population, setting the stage for a showdown between good and evil.

On McCain, King told Salon: