Former Common Cause President Chellie Pingree was leading a crowded Democratic 1st district field with less than three months before the primary, according to a poll commissioned by her own campaign. However, almost as many voters were undecided in the Democratic race, according to the survey.

A campaign memo showed that out of 500 likely Democratic primary voters in the 1st district, Pingree had 38 percent, followed by state Sen. Ethan Strimling and former state Senate Majority Leader Michael Brennan with 9 percent apiece, York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence with 5 percent, physician Steve Meister with 4 percent and Iraq War veteran Adam Cote with 3 percent. Thirty-three percent of respondents said they were undecided.

The Lake Partners survey was taken Feb. 19-24 and had a margin of error of 4.4 points.

A poll performed by the same firm in October showed Pingree with a slightly higher percentage and had a smaller number of voters who said they were undecided.

Pingree, a former state Senate Majority Leader, has the highest name recognition of any candidate in the primary, having been the Democratic nominee against Sen. Susan Collins (R) in 2002.

The winner of the Democratic primary on June 10 will face the Republican nominee, either businessman Dean Scontras or Navy reservist Charlie Summers, to represent the southern Maine district that leans Democratic. The current Congressman, Rep. Tom Allen (D), is running for Senate.
— Shira Toeplitz