SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) - The countdown clock is ticking on Maine's primary elections. Primary day is next Tuesday. Four democrats are battling for their party's nomination to the U.S. Senate.
Most were not well known around the state before they started, and none of their campaigns has raised a large amount of money for advertising.
The Democrats debated here on NEWS CENTER Wednesday night. Candidates say they have spent lots of time meeting and talking to small groups of Democrats over the past few months. Making phone calls and using social media to get their message out and connect to voters. And while some Democrats say there isn't a lot of enthusiam about the Senate primary race, the candidates say they are all fighting hard to win.
The candidates are:
--Cynthia Dill is an attorney, a former Cape Elizabeth Town Councilor and state representative and is currently a member of the Maine Senate.
--Matthew Dunlap of Old Town is a self-employed writer. He is a former state legislator and Secretary of State, and served briefly as the head of the Sportsmen's Alliance of Maine.
--Jon Hinck is an attorney and state representative from Portland.
--Benjamin Pollard is a general contractor, the owner of Pollard Builders in Portland. He has not sought elective office before.