The Making of Charlie Summers

For those who've been following the race to replace US Senator Olympia Snowe here in Maine, the third and final installment of my candidate biographies is out in today's Maine Sunday Telegram.

Today's profile is on Republican nominee Charlie Summers, who by some -- but by no means all -- polls is within striking distance of the frontrunner in the race, former governor Angus King. Summers -- literally raised in his parent's hotel in Kewanee, Illinois -- was a rising star in Maine politics twenty years ago, but has been serving his state and country in appointed or military capacities, not elected ones, ever since. Now he's hoping to replace his former mentor - Sen. Snowe - even as he has become estranged from her.

While reporting this story, I made some calls to Kewanee, which prompted a reporter there to write this "local kid made good" piece for the regional newspaper chain in that area this weekend. 

In case you missed them, here are the previous profiles of Angus King and Democratic nominee Cynthia Dill. And if you're a glutton for Maine politics, there's also this dual profile of the US House Maine-2 candidates, Michael Michaud and Kevin Raye.

[Update, 10/29/12: Here's my post introducing the U.S. Senate profiles to readers of Washington Monthly]