Democrat Mark Fernald and Republican Craig Benson will be their parties' nominees in the race for governor. Both men won over more experienced politicians: Fernald over veteran state lawmaker Bev Hollingworth; Benson, over former US Senator Gordon Humphrey and former State senator Bruce Keough.
Mark Fernald beat fellow income-taxer Bev Hollingworth, by more than 10 percent of the vote...And after declaring what proved to be an easier than expected win, a dogged Fernald wasted little time in celebration. Instead, he returned to the same themes he's been stressing all campaign long.
"This state was founded on principles; the principals of community. A community takes educated its children, educated takes care of the needy, a community asks everybody to pay their fair share."
For Republicans, an unexpectedly strong showing by Bruce Keough, made it a long night. It was well after 11, when Benson finally strode to the podium to proclaim a 3 point win. The millionaire high tech entrepreneur announced he'd made a lot of new friends during his 18 months on politics - and that wasn't the half of it.
"I have to tell you what I also got was passion. And I live my life based on passion, because passion makes things happen. And I have to tell you how excited I am to have met so many other passionate people and take a new message of change to concord and make things happen."
Benson's two Republican opponents, both pledged to support him in the general election. Gordon Humphrey's concession speech proved a far cry from the bitterness that often characterized the campaign.
'I'm at peace. One of my favorite hymns has words that go something like this. Even so, even so, all is well all is well with my soul. And I hope it is the same with you. Be at peace.'
The Republicans go into the general election with many advantages. They have much more money - during the primary they outspent democrats by 20 to 1. Yesterday's raw vote totals are also telling. Fernald won with about 30,000 votes; Benson took his party's nomination with over 50,000 in a republican primary that drew over 130,000 voters.
