UPDATE: TABOR Supporter Goes To Bat For Poliquin – Attempts To Sound Official

By Matthew Gagnon
December 9, 2009

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UPDATE: Since initially running this story, it has come to my attention that the email cited below has no official standing whatsoever, and is quite literally a TABOR supporter who sent out an email to his list, used the official logo, and used language intended to make the release sound like an official TABOR release.

TABOR NOW is apparently not taking sides in this campaign, and does not approve of the use of its campaign materials to give the impression that it is.

Bill Becker, Campaign Manager for Matt Jacobson, contacted me with the following statement:

“The TABOR NOW campaign knows nothing about this nor do they know who Zach Leach is. They have not and do not give any permission to use their logo, etc..

This is more DC-style, stretching-the-truth style politics. We are very disappointed in these antics.”

My original post gave the impression that TABOR had endorsed Bruce Poliquin (even though I never said that), and so I should apologize to readers for not making the source of this appeal more clear. For those keeping score, it comes from a TABOR volunteer and obviously a Poliquin supporter. The underlying story remains the same – that the TABOR network is at least partially being tapped to fundraise for Poliquin – but with no official standing.

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There has been much speculation over just what impact Bruce Poliquin’s involvement in the Yes on 4 (TABOR) campaign would have on his candidacy since election day.

There are those who argue that his stepping up to the bat to go “all in” on TABOR – both with his public support and his financial support – will endear him to conservative activists, which could vault him into front runner status. There have been others that are of the belief that the overwhelming failure of 4 would make Poliquin look politically impotent, and that his money does not matter nearly as much as people assume.

Well today we have learned one very positive side effect of Poliquin’s support for TABOR – that network has been activated to fundraise on his behalf.

From my inbox today:

From: Zach Leach
Date: Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Subject: TABOR NOW – Help Bruce Poliquin
To: Matthew Gagnon

Dear Fellow TABOR supporter,

Like you, I worked very hard to pass Question 4 and to protect the rights of taxpayers in our great state. We might have lost this time, but our fight is NOT over.

Although Question 4 (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) did not pass, and despite being outspent 12:1, we were successful in highlighting the need to reform the system and stop Augusta’s rampant overspending and high taxation.

Much of that success was due to the efforts of Bruce Poliquin, candidate for Maine Governor. Mr. Poliquin independently committed nearly $100,000 of his own money to help pass Question 4:
• Poliquin sent 137,000 mail pieces.
• Poliquin made over 86,000 phone calls.
• Poliquin hosted 8 townhall meetings and 4 rallies.
• Poliquin aired 300 radio ads.
Bruce Poliquin worked tirelessly making the case to limit and reduce state spending/taxes. No one asked him to do this. Poliquin supported Question 4 because it was the right thing to do for our families.

Now it’s our turn to support Bruce. Thanks to his leadership, we were able to stand up against the status quo. He came through for us.

Will you come through for Bruce?

I know that any financial help for Bruce’s campaign will be greatly appreciated. Donations of $20, $50, $100, $250 or more will go a long way to say “thank you, Bruce” for your support of Question 4.

You can conveniently donate online here. Or, send your check payable to Poliquin for Maine Governor, Box 866, Bath, ME 04530.

Thank you for helping me support an initiative and candidate that will eliminate out-of-control state spending and high taxes.

I believe Bruce Poliquin is the right man to be our next Governor.

Respectfully,

Zach Leach
zachleach4tabornow@yahoo.com

This is by no means a game changer, but in the “crunch time” fundraising period (in case you were unaware, the second fundraising period ends at the end of December) where all the candidates scramble to boost their numbers as much as possible, this is certainly a welcome breeze at Poliquin’s back.

It should be very interesting to see how the fundraising reports shake out in the middle of January.

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Tags: 2010 Gubernatorial Race, 2010 Republican Gubernatorial Primary, Bruce Poliquin

35 Responses to “UPDATE: TABOR Supporter Goes To Bat For Poliquin – Attempts To Sound Official”

Garrett

09. Dec, 2009

As a Poliquin supporter, I see this as very good news–and well deserved by Bruce. Next year Maine voters may still not want spending by formula, but a majority of Mainers WILL still want someone who knows how to create a responsible, effective budget, as well as a tax code that allows businesses and families to succeed. I think Bruce is already being seen by some as the candidate who will do that as governor.
Tyler LeClair

09. Dec, 2009

Bruce was a very strong advocate for TABOR so it makes sense that they are helping him out. TABOR would have been a great tool for the next governor and Bruce understood that. The problem in our state is out of control spending and Bruce recognized that this would’ve been the perfect tool to combat that issue. The people behind TABOR know that Bruce will uphold the values they work towards to they are supporting him, which seems rational. I believe Bruce is the best man for the job, the Maine GOP is lucky to have a candidate at the caliber of Bruce Poliquin.
ATC

09. Dec, 2009

I think Poliquin’s support of TABOR showed that he is willing to put his money where his mouth is, unlike any of the other candidates (ie Otten hedging his bets by donating to both sides).

Most conservatives supported TABOR, so the fact that it was ultimately defeated doesn’t matter as much in the GOP primary, and that is the election Poliquin is currently trying to win. It seems like his support was a smart move that is (literally) paying off.
Simon

09. Dec, 2009

Totally expected this. The TABOR folks love the guy. These TABOR people are workers, too. They comprise the volunteer force of the Republican party. This is a clear indication that Poliquin’s ground support is growing.

This type of support helps Poliquin in the caucus in Feb/March. These TABOR people are the caucusing type. Otten’s ads don’t sway these people. They like to touch and feel their candidate. And, the only one who has reached out is Bruce Poliquin. Otten appears to not want to get his hands too dirty.
MainelyRight

09. Dec, 2009

I respect Mr. Poliquin for coming out in support of Question 4. No it didn’t pass. Being outspent 12:1 certainly had a big impact, but so too all the scare tactics that are put into play every time this comes up for vote. I feel Mr. Poliquin brought clarity to the issue. Tools like TABOR will help a fiscally responsible manager and leader such as Bruce fight the reckless spending of OPM (other people’s money) in Augusta. Sorry it didn’t pass, but I appreciate Mr. Poliquin taking a vocal position on this matter.

The man is not afraid to tell voters where he stands on an issue. All you have to do is ask him. That’s what Maine and the country could use a lot more of…the sooner the better.
Simon

09. Dec, 2009

I like Matt Jacobson, but his campaign manager is an idiot. He missed the point. Who cares if it was only a volunteer. I don’t see any other TABOR volunteer doing the same for Jacobson.

I agree with your point:

The underlying story remains the same – that the TABOR network is at least partially being tapped to fundraise for Poliquin – but with no official standing.”
MikeT

09. Dec, 2009

Given TABOR’s lack of fundraising prowess and their failure at the polls, I wouldn’t be too excited about their support if I were Bruce. Who you’d really want on your side is the Question One volunteers, but since none of the gubernatorial candidates did anything to help with that (the one conservative ballot measure that did pass, need I remind you all?) none of them will get any special support either.
Garrett

09. Dec, 2009

What could have prevented this fuss by the Jacobsen campaign is if the initial post had included this message from TABOR Now, which was included in the email sent in support of Bruce.

“This email was sent as a personal request from the person’s name seen above and is not a necessarily a message, endorsement or sanctioned email from the organization for which the person volunteered. The email was sent by the campaign with approval to send a communication like this from the individual listed above.”

It’s pretty straightforward. The email fully acknowledges it does not represent an endorsement of Bruce Poliquin by TABOR Now. So I don’t see what the controversy is.

Clearly, Bruce put in FAR more effort to advance TABOR than any other candidate. Remember, TABOR led in the polls in the summer. Its support eroded when the national union money moved in to buy ad spots in the early fall to lie but scare the crap out of people. Had the other candidates held pro-TABOR rallies, encouraged people to get out and Vote Yes on 4, invested in TABOR financially, and otherwise made it a major part of their platform, the union scare tactics would have been at least somewhat countered.

Instead, TABOR got little to no support from the other candidates (excepting LePage, who at least supported it enthusiastically)–certainly not from Jacobsen. I can understand the Jacobsen team’s concern with TABOR supporters learning who was truly trying to help them, but facts are facts. I suspect this pseudo-controversy is an attempt to distract people from the fact that Jacobsen really didn’t lend much of a hand in trying to get Question 4 passed.

It’s important for TABOR’s supporters to know the effort and investment Bruce put in on their behalf. The unions are going to use the same tried and true tactics against the GOP gubernatorial nominee next year in the general election as they did to kill TABOR. I personally want a nominee and a governor who will finally stand up to national unions’ bullying, who will go on the offensive and get the truth out to Mainers. I know Bruce will do that, and I think a lot of other people are coming to that realization as well.
Dell_Cue

09. Dec, 2009

TABOR II lost by 20 points and, when he saw it going down in flames, Poliqin was the first to leave the sinking ship. I got an e-mail from him at noon on election day saying essentially “Well, that didn’t work out”. If Poliquin now wants to own this defeat o.k. Proof positive he cannot win the general election as the voters overwhelmingly rejected his message. And by the way, when was the last time he did anything for any grassroots Republican efforts? Only now, when it serves his personal ambitions does he start throwing his wallet around. Has he ever put out signs for a house candidate on a cold October evening? Did he and his ‘volunteers’ storm the victory phonebanks last cycle? It seems to me he is attempting to buy his way to the position of party standardbearer. He hasn’t even hired people from Maine to work on his campaign. Johnny come lately is what I’m hearing.
Garrett

09. Dec, 2009

Dell_Cue, get a clue.

Bruce Poliquin has been supporting Republican principles and causes for decades.

Supporting a cause like TABOR when the unions are spending 12 times as much against him is an indicator of courage and of putting principle before politics. It’s pretty tough to win when one side just pays lip service while the other side invests heavily and throws ads up everywhere spreading disinformation.

Are you seriously trying to make the argument that Bruce’s support of TABOR, when hardly anyone else helped out and the unions spent more than ten times as much opposing it, actually says something about Bruce? Dude, if you’re really insinuating that then you’re either extraordinarily naive or you are someone’s hack.
ATC

09. Dec, 2009

Dell_Cue, are you saying that only people who have been involved in politics since being high school class president are allowed to run for office? Part of Poliquin’s whole message is that he is a businessman outsider who understands how an economy works and can cut waste. Jacobson and Otten have similar messages, and from what I can tell Poliquin has done more grassroots work than either of them.

I don’t really see TABOR’s defeat as tied to Poliquin’s efforts. The measure had been defeated before long before his involvement, and even with his big donation the fact remained that the other side spent tons more.

With your logic, no wonder our state economy is tanking, since legislators apparently aren’t allowed to have actual private sector experience.
Simon

09. Dec, 2009

Dell_Cue you are clueless.

Jacobson has a pollster from DC.
Otten’s media firm and pollster is from DC.
Mill’s design firm is in NY.
Abbot will use Collins’ team from DC.

Don’t speak unless you know what you are talking about.
Garrett

09. Dec, 2009

Simon
You make a good point. And interesting you mention Abbot, who’s not officially in the race yet. Obviously he’s the biggest DC insider of them all. A long time Maine politics insider too, just an overall “establishment” sort of candidate. Does that help or hurt?
JB

09. Dec, 2009

Mr. Dell_Cue,
Just a few facts for you so you know how much Bruce Poliquin
Campaign has done in the past year.
1 sent 137,000 emails
2 Bruce has made 120,000 calls himself to supporters
3 had a telephone town hall with 40,000 people
4 already held 8 town halls meetings From Presque Isle to Kennebunk
5 attended two dozen meet and greets
6 aired over 300 radio adds
7 has had 12 tv and radio interviews
Someone with this work ethic and dedication will win
the general election, with all the Maine GOP behind him!!!!!
IT’S NOT ABOUT THROWING HIS MONEY AROUND!!!!!!!!!
EDIEG

09. Dec, 2009

So who and where is Zach Leach? Was he a strong supporter, donor and volunteer of the TABOR campaign? The TABOR folks don’t know who he is – and didn’t authorize the use of their name or logo on any e-mail. Even if Leach was involved with TABOR, no one recalls his importance.

TABOR staff denies sending or authorizing anyone to send out an e-mail in support of any gubernatorial candidate. Period.

This is consistent with the Poliquin strategy of embellishing their relevance, and there is a trend here:

This is very similar to the incident just weeks ago where the Poliquin campaign also e-mailed out a message to the NYA alumni without permission. NYA was forced to issue a statement stating that the e-mail was sent without the permission or authorization of the school, and apoloigized to the alumni.

Who knows who the Poliquin campaign will attempt to contact next without the knowledge of the list’s owner?
Garrett

09. Dec, 2009

JB

Good point I failed to mention. Bruce would win the general. He’s incredibly personable and likeable, a rare genuine guy. But his fierce — and credible — commitment to fiscal responsibility and letting Maine be a place where businesses can thrive again is perhaps even more important; it attracts people across much of the political spectrum. And for Poliquin to be in a position to try and simply by an election like Otten is, yet instead to put in a major, 24/7 on the ground effort is obviously very attractive to voters of all stripes.
Tyler

09. Dec, 2009

Dell Cue, I would like to let you in on the way I have seen Bruce Poliquin campaign run. I have volunteered once or twice for Bruce and not once did I see a check thrown at me. One day I toured all around the state, from Bangor to Portland and back up to Waterville. Did he “pull out his wallet” and throw money at me for my hardship? No. He is not bringing in volunteers and workers because of his bank account, he is bringing them in because he is committed to fixing this state. I am very, very active in the College Republicans and I can honestly say that Bruce is the most engaged candidate there is right now for either party. No other candidate is pushing the effort full time like Bruce, no one is in a position to win like Bruce. I have full faith and confidence in his abilities as a candidate and future governor. It is very immature to say that just because he has been out creating jobs that he is not entitled to run for governor because he hasnt helped the party. He is one of three candidates to donate the requested $10,000.00 to the party, he is paying his dues and is a very welcomed addition.
Ben Haugiote

10. Dec, 2009

Bill Becker is an idiot. That much is certain.
Dell_Cue

10. Dec, 2009

He has become poltically active in the Republican struggle only now when it serves his purpose. Can you say ‘Wathan effect’? Me thinks you protest too much. Hiring outsiders to do marketing services is one thing – bringing in political hacks from out of state like the Democrats do is another. Jacobson, Mills, LePage, and Otten all have Mainers running their respective campaigns – your boy is the only one who thinks home town folks are rubes – big mistake. And by the way, are any of Poliquin’s supporters (here in Maine) over 28 years old? I think he might be on to something – Republicans have missed the boat in primary runs before by ignoring the young vote in the Lewiston – Auburn area. Real smart political analysis by the out of state boys.
Maine's Son

10. Dec, 2009

This kind of misleading crap doesn’t fly in Maine. Clearly, Poliquin has been ill-advised again by his staff from away.
Garrett

10. Dec, 2009

It strikes me as a tad ironic that a Jacobsen supporter would throw stones from the glass house of where people are from, given Bruce is a 3rd or 4th generation Mainer but Jacobsen, while not a carpetbagger, is not from Maine and is far more susceptible to such criticism.
Maine's Son

10. Dec, 2009

If the election were held today, Jacobson probably wouldn’t meet the constitutional residency requirements to take office as governor of Maine, but at least he’s smart enough to surround himself with people from Maine.

Jacobson and Poliquin are peas in the same pod. They are two bored rich guys who never gave a damn about Republicans until they decided to ride them to fame and fortune.
Dell_Cue

10. Dec, 2009

Bill Becker is running the campaign for Matt. Not only does he live in Maine, he is the original force behind TABOR. To imply Poliquin has given more to that effort is to discount history. Plain and simple, Poliquin is trying to make up for years of non-involvement with Republican politics. If Abbott does get in – and that is a big if (still not convinced Vigue is not running) there is no reason to think he’d bring in DC campaign staff. He has always used Mainers when running the races he’s managed in the past. Otten is using Edie Smith, a member of a long time Maine political family (George and Gordon are her brothers) and Harry Verywide’s company is doing the internet stuff for him. LePage has got the former police chief of Waterville running his campaign. Mills has got home grown staff as well. Poliquin, and only Poliqin, has hired outsiders from the westcoast to come in here and show the hicks how it’s done. I heard at his big debut in Portland they couldn’t even get a video to play, is that true?
Shirley Hemphill

10. Dec, 2009

Poliquin has really established himself as the cutthroat in this race, I don’t think that’s going to work real well. First the fudged Finance report (where he and his family donated most of the money but claimed he raised it all), then the cracks at Jacobson and others,and now this blatant falsification of a TABOR email (sent out on Bruce’s email account, so he can’t blame an overzealous supporter).
These kind of actions make me consider the rumors of his shady business history might actually be true.
Ben

10. Dec, 2009

This email form a Poliquin suppporter sound vaguely familiar. Didn’t the same thing happen at NYA? NYA was not pleased with a Poliquin supporter using their name for his political endorsement. Hmmmmm
Garrett

10. Dec, 2009

Del_Q,

I like Bill and yes, he did some great work for TABOR at the Maine Heritage Policy Center that Bruce Poliquin is a donor to (he’s also been donating to the Heritage Foundation for two decades–bet you didn’t know that, but you can stop with the lies now that you know). But Bill isn’t Jacobsen. Bill and Bruce have done far more work for TABOR than Jacobsen.

On another note, it’s nearly comical you’re attacking campaign staff, except that I get the sense you’re being serious. Bruce has tons of Mainers working for him, but that’s really beside the point. The important question is, Do you want a principled Republican to win the Blaine House in 2010? If you do, then you should support someone who can assemble a team that, like the Democrats do, creates an infrastructure and mobilization force to make that happen. Bruce has and is continuing to do that. I’ve seen zero evidence of any other GOP campaign doing that. Bruce can go the distance, and you should jump on board and support this great candidate.
Steveo

10. Dec, 2009

What’s the name of Mills’ design firm in NY?
Maine's Son

10. Dec, 2009

Garrett — A principled Republican would have helped relieve the sting of Maine’s dismal employment situation by hiring campaign staff in Maine from Maine.

There is plenty of talent here.

What a terrible message Poliquin is sending to Maine people by outsourcing his campaign work!
Garrett

10. Dec, 2009

Maine’s Son,

You make me laugh! An obsession with campaign staff, ha! You’ve got quite a streak going of saying unintelligent things… How long do you think you can keep it going?
Maine's Son

10. Dec, 2009

Garrett — I’m happy to see that you’ve thrown in the towel trying to defend Poliquin’s indefensible actions.

I’m pleased that I’ve been able to bring you laughter with my obsession and compassion for Maine’s unemployed.

Like JJB before you, you do your candidate more harm than good.
Simon

10. Dec, 2009

Hiring campaign staff from within Maine doesn’t seem like such a good idea. No Republican has won statewide in two decades. (with the exception of our two Senators who have DC-based strategists, etc).

So, there really isn’t political “talent” on the Republican side. And, those who were talented headed out to DC.

Being a hack in Maine and being a successful-campaign tactician in Maine is two different things.

Just because there are people who CAN run a campaign in Maine doesn’t mean that they are the people who SHOULD run a campaign in Maine.

Just a thought.
jjb

10. Dec, 2009

Shirley H.- Where is your proof that Bruce Poliquin has a
“shady business history”. If you are going to throw around
a bunch a lies you better be able to back it up????? Give
us some examples Shirley!
Al Tyne

11. Dec, 2009

Simon, albiet inaccurate, great thought!

Both senators’s multiple victories were engineered by Mainers.
Dell_Cue

11. Dec, 2009

Simon, your point about no talent in Maine falls short. You say that Collins and Snowe have used DC people for their campaign staff? Wrong, but thank you for playing. I did some volunteer phone banking at Victory HQ last cycle (we’re you there?) and saw all home-grown paid staff people working Susan’s race and running Maine Victory. You show what will be Poliquin’s achilles heel – no political history or background with the party. Can you say “Wathan effect”?
Team Mills

18. Dec, 2009

“Mill’s design firm is in NY.”

Not true. Mills’ campaign materials (website, print, etc.) have all been done by volunteers who live and work in Maine.

“Hiring campaign staff from within Maine doesn’t seem like such a good idea.”

I hope that’s not an official statement from the Poliquin campaign.

There’s plenty of talent in Maine: some with political experience, some with business experience, and some in school. It’s how you make use of the talent, skills and ideas – and what kind of candidate the talented want to help win.

Hiring out-of-state consultants suggests a candidate does not know how to make use of Maine’s assets.

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