Alex Isenstadt's blog

Anthony PollinaProgressive gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina is announcing the launch of his statewide "Building a Better Vermont" tour, which starts up on May 4 with a stop in Stowe and wraps up on May 22 in Windsor.

The Pollina campaign is billing the campaign stops as “meetings,” where attendees will have an opportunity to discuss their concerns about the state.

"This is about getting people talking and identifying the issues most important to them. Speaking up is the first step in changing policy for the better," said Pollina. "One of the big frustrations people have is feeling they are not being heard."

With Gov. Jim Douglas releasing his economic stimulus plan late last week, Vermont Republicans and Democrats exchanged attacks over the weekend on the plan.

Progressive gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina is out with a statement of his own blasting Republican incumbent Jim Douglas for his veto of campaign finance legislation and the Instant Runoff Voting bill.

"I am disappointed but not surprised to hear my opponent has vetoed two bills that would strengthen Vermont's democracy. The current governor has a bad habit of discouraging participation and encouraging big money in politics,” said Pollina.

“Vermonters know that money from political parties is really money from corporate special interests. They don't care about Vermont, they care about their own bottom line. What is my opponent afraid of? Greater participation? That he won't have a million dollars to get re-elected?”

Democratic State Auditor Tom Salmon will be kicking off his campaign for reelection on April 11, with stops in Barre and Burlington.

Salmon is completing his first term in office. He defeated Republican incumbent Randy Brock in 2006 by 137 votes.

Violet Coffin, who lead the state Democratic Party from 1985-1993, passed away Monday. She was 87.

The Burlington Free Press has more on Coffin’s life and career.

Progressive gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina is planning a Wednesday press availability to hit Republican incumbent Jim Douglas on health care.

"Vermonters need to take a good look at just how much health care spending has gone up and will keep going up under or our current governor.  When the legislature go home and my opponent goes out to cut ribbons across Vermont, hard times will be getting  even harder for Vermonters, including the most vulnerable," said Pollina.

WASHINGTON -- When Arizonans opened the pages of the Arizona Republic on Veterans Day in November, there was a good chance they saw a full page advertisement taking aim at Democratic U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell for his vote in support of a bill that included a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. The advertisement featured a letter from injured Iraq veteran Andrew Robinson, pictured seated in a wheelchair.

VT Dems caucused.

And the Party fundraised.

An NPV plan was passed.

And Leahy waded into the presidential race.

Democratic U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy is taking a step back from his comments earlier in the day on Vermont Public radio that Clinton should drop out of the Democratic presidential race and endorse Barack Obama.  read more »

Spokesman David Carle says Leahy will be holding a press availability in Vermont this afternoon at a state Bar Association gathering to comment on his remarks.