Updated 5:04 p.m. | The National Republican Senatorial Committee launched a new ad today against Maine Senate frontrunner Angus King (I), one of at least three outside groups that have gone negative on the two-term former governor. But if the barrage of negative ads running against King bothers him, he did not reveal such feelings in an interview with Roll Call this afternoon. "I'm a walking economic development project for Maine," King joked, noting all the money coming into the Pine Tree State's economy on behalf of outside groups trying to make sure he doesn't win. "They're building a statue of me in the lobby of Channel 6," King added, laughing, referring to the Portland, Maine, NBC affiliate. But during a 20-minute discussion on his campaign, King admitted that the ads have had an effect and tightened his race with Republican Charlie Summers and Democrat Cynthia Dill to fill the open seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R). "The polls have tightened," he said. "I don't think I'd be honest if I didn't say people being pounded every night by being told that I'm a big spender or I blast mountain tops or whatever it is isn't gonna have some impact." (more…)
