[Steven] Abbott to launch Blaine House bid

Pine Tree Politics
BREAKING: Steve Abbott Will Announce Next Week
By Matthew Gagnon on Wednesday, January 6, 2010

. . .

Also a minor bombshell to the race, I have confirmed that Steve Abbott has lined up both Peter Cianchette and Peter Vigue behind him for his run. The Cianbro duo brings some heavy hitting business and political ties to the Abbott campaign which will no doubt help him with both fundraising and institutional party support for his run.

http://www.pinetreepolitics.com/2010/01/06/breaking-steve-abbott-will-an...

Does this make Steve the front runner?

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

Wasn't it not that long ago that he was a definite no?

I'm not sure I'm particularly encouraged by this, but I don't know him at all.

I never realized there'd be that many willing to dive into a vat of burning oil.

Back in September he made it clear that he would not be a candidate for Congress.

Becasue he was federally employed he could not definitevely say he was running for governor. He has made it clear to friends and colleagues that he would be jumping in in Janaury.

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

Steven Abbott

I think he'll have to be considered one of the top three contenders - since according to Steve's comments, he appears to have a strong organization behind him. I suspect the Collins organization and network will be of considerable help. Now to find out where he stands on various issues. Right now - a blank page.

With all these Republicans so eager to run for office, why can't the party find a candidate to oppose Chellie Pingree? If Pingree gets serious scrutiny in the media -- which she hasn't yet -- she should be vulnerable. A candidate who gets much of her funding from a hedge fund magnate with business interests in China and who voted to defund the F-22 fighter, which provided work for Pratt & Whitney employees in South Berwick, clearly is not heavy on Maine values.

For Immediate Release
January 6, 2010

STEVE ABBOTT, SENATOR COLLINS’ LONG TIME CHIEF OF STAFF, TO RESIGN

BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that her Chief of Staff, Steve Abbott, is leaving after 12 years of service. Abbott has been the Senator’s Chief of Staff since 1997. He has run her office in Washington as well as her six offices in Maine, served as the Senator’s top advisor, and managed her successful reelection campaigns.

“Steve has been a valuable advisor and a great friend,” said Senator Collins. “He has a deep knowledge of and love for his home state of Maine.”

“It has been an honor to work for Senator Collins,” said Steve Abbott. “I am proud of the work that she has done on behalf of the people of Maine and all Americans.”

Abbott grew up in Orono and is a 1981 graduate of Orono High School. He received a degree in History from Harvard College in 1985 and a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law in 1991.

###

This guy raised $8 million for the last campaign he ran. If he's got Peter Cianchette and Peter Vigue behind him, he will be the Democrats worst nightmare.

I asked him why he would run last March ( a power broker in D.C., uprooting his family, small children,etc) and he told me he didn't want to run - BUT that he didn't know how much would be left of Maine in another 4 years if the Republicans lost again.

His 2nd district base would help to defeat McGowan. If Vigue is with him, that eliminates the most dangerous independent option, leaving only Eliot Cutler to play the Angus card. And I think this definitely puts some current GOP candidates in the "soon to withdraw" category. The financial reports due the 15th should help winnow the field.

Now let's see if he'll come out with a program radical enough to make a difference for Maine. We are the oldest, poorest state in the Union, and one of only three states to lose population last year. It will take some bold measures to interrupt Maine's death spiral - let's hope he has some bold ideas.

And by the way, I think Poliquin would make a formidable candidate against Pingree.

Steve is not uprooting his family. Steve and his family have always lived in Maine. His kids are in school in Maine. He simply split time between Maine and DC.

But I otherwise agree with the analysis above. None of the candidates already in the race have taken off. Abbott is getting in at a good time and, if the report about Vigue and Cianchette is true, that is big news.

Is Abbott a conservative?

Is Abbott a conservative?

No, he's been Susan Collins CoS for the past 12 years...is SHE a conservative?

My concern exactly.

Will he try to steer the train in a different direction, or just slow it down and make it more "earth friendly" by reducing noise and smoke?

How about letting him announce and seeing what he has to say?

He will certainly be to the right of Lindell's favored candidate -- Peter Mills.

He's definitely a FISCAL conservative. I'm waiting to see if he's willing to take on the entrenched bureaucracies in education, welfare and the nanny state regulators.

That, to me, is where Mills falls short. He's willing to make government more efficient, but seems to lack the will to curb it. We do not need an efficient welfare state. We need a classical liberal free enterprise state.

classical liberal free enterprise state.

One could read that several ways...
Kindly supply at least one hyphen, in the location of your choice.
lol

Well known in party circles, but not a household name elsewhere. Political experience in abundance and good access to cash. Personality, speaking ability, physical presence all good. My impression (saying no more than that) is that Collins is as conservative as she thinks she can afford to be and still win big. She is welcome at the MHPC meetings and advertised on AMG. I don't see Snowe connecting with the same circles.

Not so unusual for staffers to be more conservative (or liberal) than their employers.

What is the history of staffers succeeding as candidates?

Naran....the meaning of "liberal" has almost completely morphed over the years. The classic and original meaning derived from liberty. The current meaning is almost the dead opposite.

Your question relates to someone who used it in the classic sense.

See Milton Friedman and others.

DB: How about letting him announce and seeing what he has to say?

FIne; but what's that old saying about "sometimes what you are gets in the way of what you say?"

Some of the candidates I know before they speak on the campaign trail, some I don't.

And I have a slight disinclination for those the "big party machinery" puts forward for openers when I have no other knowledge.

I figure if Abbott is liberal enough then I will switch support to him. (Engage sarcasm filter...)

Mills would already be Governor = IF he were a Democrat. He's brilliant, and we are fortunate to have him in the GOP.

I do not believe he would revive the GOP or alter the state's downward trajectory as Governor- although our finances would be more transparent. He would, however, make a fine OMB director in any Republican Governor's administration.

MILLS.
FEH.

Thrasybulus: You are wrong that Mills would be Governor if he were a Democrat.

1. Real Democrats would despise him as much as Real Republicans do;

2. He would still not know how to win a primary if he were in the other party; and

3. Since when has being smart been valued by Maine Democrats? These are the people who have elected Baldacci and Michaud. Both are smart politically, but neither are big brains.

By the way, really smart people know what they don't know and listen to experts in the areas where they have little experience or knowledge. Mills thinks he knows everything and doesn't listen to anyone. That is not smart.

Mills will save all from the pending Democratic tax increase...

Oh wait a minute. He VOTED for it.

Never mind.

Peter "bi-partisan" Mills. He never met a stupid Democratic idea he wouldn't provide cover for.

From over the AMG transom...

[O]n the Abbott Governor thread...there seems to be the impression that Peter Vigue is a Republican when in fact he has been a registered Democrat most if not all of his life. At present he may be an "unenrolled" but he is not a Republican that I am aware of - a point that seems to have been missed both here at AMG and by Matthew Gagnon at PTP...

Vigue is a Perot/Longley independent. He represents the Mussolini factor in American politics - the trains will run on time, efficiency in government, business initiatives originating at the top, etc. This being a Perot year in Maine, a strong state for Perotistas in the past, we need him on board to win in November. If Cutler wasn't such an elitist lawyer type, he'd be channeling Longley as we speak.

I'm starting to get the distinct feeling that Dan Billings doesn't like Peter Mills. Mills is far from being the only egomaniac in this campaign who will not seek out or listen to competent advice. Seems to be a common political ailment.

Speaking of the other types who DO look for political talent and listen to it, anybody notice Poliquin has raised over $650,000 dollars(!). I can't see him getting past Otten and Abbott, but I think he'd blow the doors off Chellie's campaign car.

I actually get along with Mills fine personally. But the Mills mythology has got to stop.

As for Poliquin -- who I like very much -- let's not get too excited by that number until we know how much he has raised from people other than himself.

As for Vigue, I expect that Vigue will be voting in the GOP primary in June or he would not be endorsing Abbott. All the other GOP candidates are running on their business experience. It is significant that one of the most respected business leaders in Maine is backing Abbott.

From Al Diamon:
A reliable source says Mark Woodward, recently retired executive editor of the Bangor Daily News, is returning to politics. Woodward, who once worked as press secretary for Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, is said to be joining the gubernatorial campaign of Steve Abbott, when Abbott joins the GOP field later this month.
Link

Is it corrrect to say that Abbott has run Collins' whole operation?

Where is he on the TARP program?
Where is he on the $787 BILLION "Stimulus" plan she voted for?
Where is he on the additional budget-busting spending?
Where is he on health care reform - really?
Where is he on partial-birth abortion?
Where is he on federal funding of abortion?
Where is he on Maine's continued status as a Welfare State - with a state budget "balanced" by federal pork projects, Obama's welfare-expanding "bailouts" and more borrowing from our grandchildren?

So he can raise money and has been around Collins for years... SO WHAT?

I can't speak for Dan's position, but Mills' campaign statements against TABOR forever sealed his fate with me.

As a good friend says - Mills = Baldacci Lite.

From over the AMG transom...

Mark Woodward will not be Abbott's press secretary.