Cape Elizabeth's Dill considering run against Snowe

CAPE ELIZABETH — While she’s not yet off to the races, state Sen. Cynthia Dill, has her running shows on and is trying out the starter’s blocks for size.

On New Year’s Day, the Cape Elizabeth Democrat announced on her blog (www.dillsconventionalwisdom.blogspot.com) that, “against all odds,” she is mulling a run for the U.S. Senate, in hopes of prying Olympia Snowe from the capital cornerstone she’s inhabited since 1978, first as a representative, then, since 1995, in the upper chamber.

On Monday, Dill said she’ll decide “within the next couple of weeks” whether or not to launch an effort to gather the minimum 2,000 signatures she must submit by March 15 to get on the June primary ballot. To date, she has not hired a political consultant, she said, nor has she formed a formal exploratory committee. She does have a circle of “intelligent and thoughtful” people advising her on the possibility of running for national office, but declined to name names, “for their privacy.”

“If I do decide to run, I’ll certainly tell you everybody I’m working with at that time,” she said. “Right now, my job is to talk to people from all across the state to see if they’re really ready for change in Washington, if they want to send a new senator to fight for economic justice and working families.”

Matt Dunlap, a former secretary of state from Old Town, and state Rep. Jon Hinck of Portland have each announced that they, too, will seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Dill said both are “honorable men” whom she “will support 100 percent” should she rule against or lose a primary race.

Dill said she has no campaign appearances or events planned at this time, but that she is inviting donations to her Dill Leadership PAC and comments on her Facebook page to gauge support for her entry into the race.

Dill admits to voting for Snowe in 2006, favoring her, as 74 percent of Mainers did, over Democrat Jean Hay Bright and unenrolled candidate Bill Slavick.

“I think she’s an amazing, intelligent woman,” said Dill, of Snowe, “but I think she’s wandered too far to the right, as has the Republican Party. What Mainers need right now is someone who will go to Washington and fight for the middle class, and not the rich and powerful, and the special interests.”