ME-2: New Polling Data Released

The Global Strategy Group ran a survey for what they term is an unidentified outside organization, testing two-term Maine Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Oakland/Bangor) and environmental activist Lucas St. Clair (D).  The poll (10/2-5; 625 ME-2 interviews; 400 likely 2018 general election voters; 300 likely ME-2 Democratic primary voters) finds that Mr. St. Clair, the son of Burt Bees products founder Roxanne Quimby and who led the charge for the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument projects, easily leading the Democratic nomination battle.  According to the GSG results, Mr. St. Clair has a 40-8% advantage over state Rep. Jared Golden (D-Lewiston).  When the Democratic polling leader is paired with Rep. Poliquin, the Congressman clings to a 44-41% edge.
 
St. Clair’s activity to ban hunting and limit access to key areas of northern Maine may do him well in obtaining the Democratic nomination, but is also a difficult sell in the general election.  President Trump carried ME-2, and did so by winning nine of the CD’s eleven counties.  And, in an area where hunting and gun ownership is a staple for the region’s residents, St. Clair’s activism background and approach will likely be met with derision among those same voters who supported Trump over Hillary Clinton.  Still, armed with sizable personal resources that will allow him to self-fund, and Poliquin being an adept fundraiser in his own right (he has already raised $1.7 million for his 2018 race and has $1.52 million in the bank), this northern Maine congressional campaign will likely become a top tier campaign next year.

--Jim Ellis