Mutiny on the Pingree?

Chellie Pingree has a problem. Although, it remains to be seen if it is necessarily a bad problem to have. A few weeks ago she had a great PR week with her press event announcing her intention to support "A responsible plan to end the war in Iraq." PolitickerME covered the story here. In addition to a press conference with General Johns, Ms. Pingree also co-authored an op-ed with Major General Paul Eaton, a lead advocate of the plan to leave Iraq.

Fast forward to this week. On Saturday, May 10th, Major General Eaton apparently had second thoughts on his Pingree endorsement. He sent a letter to the editor of the Portland Press Herald that read in part,

"I recently agreed to allow Chellie Pingree to lend her name to an op-ed column I wrote in support of a very serious plan to end the war in Iraq responsibly ("Democrats sign on to plan to end the Iraq war") published in this paper on April 22. I am writing today to disassociate myself from Chellie Pingree's campaign and endorse Adam Cote's bid for Congress in Maine's 1st District."

A couple of things come to mind here. First, whenever you see an op-ed signed by two or more people, the chances are neither of them wrote it. Maj. Gen. Eaton confirms at least half of that theory. Second, what is this fight about? Was there ever a time where Ms. Pingree has not articulated her support of the "get out of Iraq now" position?

I think the problem for the General here is that he fails to understand politics and the art of nuance. It is no accident that as Washington reframes the Iraq debate to poll tested words like "responsible", "gradual", and "draw down", local candidates must also adjust their messages. One possible explanation for the dual positions is the belief that "Get out of Iraq NOW" is so yesterday for mainstream voters -- and candidates who plan to win in the fall recognize that reality. Perhaps Ms. Pingree was merely trying to jump start her move to the middle for the November election.

So, the question for the Pingree campaign is, did they make the jump too quickly for the liberal and very committed "Get Out of Iraq Now" voters? Can you have both positions - get out now and responsible exit while maintaining your liberal base and making some headway with the more moderate voters?

The Cote campaign has already jumped on the General Eaton letter, issuing a press release. In the press release the Cote campaign points out the duplicitous nature of the Pingree position noting,

General Eaton's op-ed today in the Portland Press Herald notes the Pingree campaign's multiple positions on the central issue of cutting off funding, rejected in the plan he played a major part in writing, and ends "On Iraq, you can't be responsible one minute and irresponsible the next. You have to be clear. You have to be a leader. That's why I retract my op-ed with Chellie Pingree and endorse Adam Cote for Congress."

Ethan Strimling and Mike Brennan, both solid members of the "Get out now" contingent have yet to comment on the affair. The real issue for voters in the democratic primary here in Maine will revolve around the shifting national dialog on the Iraq war. Will Democrats in Maine feel more at ease with the more hard-line Strimling position, as well as the Brennan position on the Iraq war or adopt the language of the Cote campaign.

It would appear that the Pingree folks are making a calculation that both positions are in play here in Maine. It remains to be seen if the democratic voter base agrees.