Pingree holds off Cote in convincing Democratic primary win

Congressional candidate Chellie PingreePORTLAND -- In spite of a late charge from Adam Cote, front runner Chellie Pingree captured a convincing win tonight in the Democratic primary for Maine's 1st Congressional District.

With 73 percent of precincts reporting, Pingree leads Cote 44 percent to 26 percent.

After waiting until after 11 p.m. for the local networks to call the race, Pingree addressed a boisterous crowd of a couple hundred supporters jammed into the Porthole Restaurant, an old bar and grill on the waterfront in downtown Portland. "We can actually say it now," she finally said, "I think that we won."

In her brief remarks, she thanked her supporters and turned her attention to the upcoming general election campaign as the crowd shouted, "Chellie! Chellie! Chellie!"

"I am looking forward to the next five months where we get to talk to the voters again," Pingree said above the loud crowd. "I know we are going to hear the same thing form people who want to end the war restore our reputation around the world, investing in energy alternatives, in the economy, on our infrastructure, on education and investing in universal health care."

Pingree also took a moment to congratulate her competitors on a hard fought race.

"We had five hard working opponents and everyone sacrificed," she said. "We came a long way in a year of forty-something debates. I appreciate all of my opponents who worked hard and gave up a lot to be here."

Pingree has been the front runner from the beginning of the race. The 2002 Democratic Senate nominee, Pingree has well-established ties to the district having served in the Maine state Senate for eight years, four as majority leader. She quickly amassed a hefty war chest of over $1.3 million, more than double the size of any of the other five candidates' vying the nomination.

Pingree appeared to have a lock on the contest until Adam Cote, an Iraq veteran, appeared to be closing the gap in the final weeks.

But it wasn't enough to upset Pingree.

The results tonight are a "clear indication that people want to change the price of energy, healthcare and the war in Iraq," said Willy Ritch, Pingree's spokesman. "And it is pretty clear they they believe Chellie is the person who can do that."

Tom Smith, a 37-year-old from Bath, is one of Pingree's grassroots army. "She's a strong candidate on many fronts," Smith said. In particular, Pingree, a former president and CEO of Common Cause, a nonprofit organization dedicated to holding politicians accountable, appealed to Smith because of her character and honesty.

"Her lack of polish appeals to a lot of people; it appeals to me," he said. "She tells the truth the way it is and isn't trying to spin me."