ME-01: Former Dem Grohman challenging Pingree, endorsed by LePage, 26 other GOPs

[MAINEiac4434]

In Maine’s less-interesting 1st District, Democrat-turned-Independent Martin Grohman, a State Rep from Biddeford, is challenging Chellie Pingree.

He will lose.

[MAINEiac4434]

In case you're wondering, Grohman is running as an insufferable centrist. His slogan is "Fix not Fight" and he just retweeted someone (bronz?) praising "centrist independents."

[MAINEiac4434]

Could he take enough votes from Pingree to make this competitive with a serious GOP candidate?

There is no reasonable Republican; Mark Holbrook is a crazy person.

In theory, yes, if Mark Holbrook was not the Republican nominee, and not in a Trump midterm.

[MAINEiac4434]

Republicans quarantining their nominee as LePage backs Grohman:

https://www.timesrecord.com/articles/maine-1/lepage-backs-independent-in-congressional-race/

https://twitter.com/mgrohman/status/1009553170719072256?s=21

I hate this guy.

[MAINEiac4434]

I think people are forgetting that IRV is a thing now.

Another reason why Pingree will win. Are we expecting people who vote for Grohman first to put hardcore Trumpist Mark Holbrook as their second choice?

Anyway, Grohman is the embodiment of everything I hate about centrists. "If we get both sides together, we can compromise and figure it out!" "We need civility from both sides!" "Let's try to find some common ground!" "Fix not fight!"

There are parts of the Republican platform that should be defeated wholesale, that no one outside of their most devoted adherents should have any interest in compromising on.

[MAINEiac4434]

Republicans quarantining their nominee as LePage backs Grohman:

wait what

Holbrook's kind of a nutjob. If he's too far right for even LePage, how do you think he'd do in the ultraliberal 1st district?

Also: here's a picture with Grohman grinning amicably with the Republican nominee for Governor.

[MAINEiac4434]

I think people are forgetting that IRV is a thing now.

Another reason why Pingree will win. Are we expecting people who vote for Grohman first to put hardcore Trumpist Mark Holbrook as their second choice?

Anyway, Grohman is the embodiment of everything I hate about centrists. "If we get both sides together, we can compromise and figure it out!" "We need civility from both sides!" "Let's try to find some common ground!" "Fix not fight!"

There are parts of the Republican platform that should be defeated wholesale, that no one outside of their most devoted adherents should have any interest in compromising on.

I mean, we do need civility, but many centrists are hypocrites about it, this guy included. LePage is literally the stark opposite of civility.

Calling out Democrats for not being "civil" right now is the equivalent of calling out Solidarity in Poland for not being civil in their fight against Communism. Direct action and vigorous opposition is the best way to confront the Trump regime.

[MAINEiac4434]

A poll found Grohman got 27% of first preference votes, but it was backed by an astroturfing "centrist" organization and they didn't publish the numbers for Pingree and Holbrook. (They also didn't publish horserace numbers for the gubernatorial race).

I mean, look at how they're trying to spin this dreadful poll for Grohman: https://www.uniteamerica.org/maine_poll

[MAINEiac4434]

Why?

Apparently the dude has a massive ego.

[MAINEiac4434]

Holy hell Grohman is extremely bad at this

https://twitter.com/mgrohman/status/1040275654854565888?s=21

Amy Volk is basically an open white supremacist and one of the most conservative members of the State Senate. After the LePage endorsement, he’s basically running as a tea partier.

[MAINEiac4434]

LMAO it’s even worse than I thought.

25 other Republicans have endorsed Grohman, including Trump’s Maine State Director in the 2016 campaign.

The hypocrisy of someone whose slogan is “Fix Not Fight” running gleefully with the endorsement of a Trump staffer is disgusting. I hate this man.

https://www.martygrohman.com/massive_group_of_me_republican_leaders_endorse_marty_grohman_for_congress

[MAINEiac4434]

Regardless, I’m certain we’ll see Pingree mailers with Grohman’s pro-LePage and pro-Volk tweets.

[MAINEiac4434]

Gohman’s also got the support of the biggest gun rights organization in Maine (outside of the NRA):

https://www.martygrohman.com/maine_sportsman_s_coalition_backs_grohman_for_congress

Why didn’t he just run as a Republican?

[MAINEiac4434]

Grohman is now hitting Pingree for voting against defense authorization, saying it costs jobs at Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

This is totally disingenuous — Pingree singlehandedly gets BIW and PNS work through her tireless efforts on the appropriations committee. Grohman has said he’d refuse to caucus with either party, meaning he wouldn’t be nearly as effective at getting BIW and PNS work, because he wouldn’t be on a relevant committee (or ANY committee).

[MAINEiac4434]

Why are you so agitated about this race Maineiac? Pingree has literally a 99.8% chance of victory.

Because I am disgusted with Grohman's behavior, his duplicity, his dishonesty, his smarminess. Even a 0.2% chance of this man being my congressman makes me want to vomit.

[MAINEiac4434]

Pingree is running ads for the first time in four years:

https://www.facebook.com/PingreeForCongress/videos/2144606519134681/

My guess: Grohman is taking enough away from her to push her below 50%. She doesn’t want that to happen, even if she does win on the second ballot.

[MAINEiac4434]

Pingree is running ads for the first time in four years:

https://www.facebook.com/PingreeForCongress/videos/2144606519134681/

My guess: Grohman is taking enough away from her to push her below 50%. She doesn’t want that to happen, even if she does win on the second ballot.

Very McCaskill-esque ad.

Actually, now that you mention it, since both districts share media markets, this might be an “introduction” ad to the rest of the state if she wants to run against Collins in 2020...

[MAINEiac4434]

My guess: Grohman is taking enough away from her to push her below 50%. She doesn’t want that to happen, even if she does win on the second ballot.

I doubt it's come to that; if it did, then I would be extremely surprised.

I would assume it's just a precaution.

Also for the first time in a long time she's the net recipient of donations, instead of a net donor. Maybe she just has extra cash to burn.

[MAINEiac4434]

Damn, if Chellie runs for Senate in 2020 there would be sooo many people who could/would run for her seat. Adam Cote, Mark Eves, Zak Ringelstein, Sara Gideon, Justin Alfond, Cynthia Dill, and a whole lot of state reps and senators. I like Chellie more than all those people though. And I have doubts in her winning statewide. I'd hate for her to run for Senate and lose and then I get stuck with a moderate like Adam Cote as my House rep.

Also me.

Betsy is also in the first district, too.

[MAINEiac4434]

Even with the entire GOP establishment behind him, Grohman can’t pass Holbrook in poll:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/Pan_Atlantic_Research_Maine.pdf

[MAINEiac4434]

Grohman has taken his focus off of Pingree and is now almost exclusively attacking the Republican Holbrook. Since his entire campaign has been about winning on the second ballot by getting the second preferences of Republicans, this is a bizarre move.

https://twitter.com/onlinesentinel/status/1055519366282801153?s=21

Maybe he realizes any hope of winning is lost as Pingree will easily clear 50% on the first ballot rendering the ranking null, and is now fighting like hell to finish in second.

Somewhere, Chellie is relaxing with an organic kombucha and smiling.

[MAINEiac4434]

Despite the backing of the entire Maine GOP establishment and the Chamber of Commerce, Marty Grohman could not get into double digits. Pingree increased her margin from 2016, and could break 60% if the final few precincts go her way.