Mainer Says Emily Cain Is ‘One of Us’ in Democratic Spot
August 11, 2016
By Simone Pathe
House Majority PAC will begin airing a positive spot boosting Democrat Emily Cain and her ties to Maine in the state’s tossup 2nd District Friday.
The ad, which was obtained first by Roll Call, is part of a $700,000 buy in the Portland and Bangor media markets. Combined with previously reserved airtime for the fall, House Majority PAC is on track to spend north of $1.6 million in the district.
Cain is locked in a tightrematch with freshman GOP Rep. Bruce Poliquin, who defeated her by 5 points in 2014. Democrats recruited Cain soon after that loss to run again this year.
In this sprawling blue-collar district, which includes the region’s paper mills, rural potato country and the nation’s largest lobstering ports, being from Maine matters.
In her 2014 race, Cain’s critics attacked her for not having had a serious full-time job and not being a Maine native. Her family moved to the state when she was 17, and she stayed to attend the University of Maine.
(Poliquin was born and raised in Maine, but has faced similar criticism for spending time “away” for the years he worked in finance in New York City.)
The new ad addresses those criticisms of Cain. It references her attendance at the state’s public university, and her service in the state legislature.
It features Maine Guide Ray Wirth paddling in his kayak.
“We need someone representing us who puts Maine first,” he says.
Footage of Wirth is interspersed with images of Cain talking to voters.
“Emily Cain is one of us,” Wirth says. “She’s on our side.”
The ad mentions that her husband also used to work as a Maine Guide.
Earlier this week, End Citizens United announced it was launching a TV buy upwards of $200,000 in the Portland and Bangor markets in support of Cain.
The Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday endorsed Poliquin, the 9th most vulnerable member of the House.
Although Poliquin proved an early impressive fundraiser, Cain has been raising more money than the congressman. She raised $543,000 during the second quarter, while he raised $413,000. But she has nearly $1 million less in cash on hand.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the full second quarter hauls of each candidate.