Pollina camp emphasizes: he's in

With Democratic chair Ian Carleton telling the Burlington Free Press over the weekend that Progressive Anthony Pollina is hedging on entering the race for governor, Pollina sources today are emphasizing that Pollina is, in fact, quite serious about jumping into the fray.

“Ian knows Anthony’s running,” says one Pollina insider. “Everybody in the state knows he’s running.”

Pollina gave an interview to Vermont Public Radio Friday in which he stated his intention to challenge Republican Governor Jim Douglas. Also, the Free Press quoted Pollina in its Saturday edition as saying: "I am going to be a candidate in the upcoming election."

A Pollina aide says that the campaign is moving forward cautiously, seeking to assemble a coalition of grassroots activists, key county political leaders, Democratic activists, and labor leaders. The aide said that uniting the groups behind a Pollina candidacy was crucial in the effort to unseat Douglas.

Pollina spoke with potential Democratic candidates John Campbell, Matt Dunne, Doug Racine, and Peter Galbraith prior to his Friday radio appearance. An aide described the conversations as “courtesy calls,” in which Pollina notified the Democrats of his impending announcement.

Meanwhile, Pollina has been at work building a campaign organization. He has brought on Megan Brook, the Progressive Party Chittenden County Chair, to serve as a coordinator as the campaign gets underway. Brook played a key role in the Party’s effort in the 2006 legislative races. “We wanted to get Megan along to get things going,” said one Pollina insider, who said that Brook’s role would shift after other staff are brought aboard.

Pollina has been shifting the date for his official announcement. He had been aiming for a late January or early February announcement. Aides now expect  a mid-February date.