Meg Brook

The 2008 presidential cycle is breaking new ground: the most successful female and minority candidates, huge leaps in voter turnout, and a reinvigorated excitement about politics.

But the excitement generated from the candidates topping the party ticket is not just confined to the presidential race: Vermont officials and political observers are feeling the enthusiasm too. Many have dubbed the phenomena of heightened interest, activism and turnout the "Obama Factor."

Progressive Party gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina: Politicker PhotoGov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) officially announced his bid for re-election last Thursday, and House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) wrapped up the kickoff tour of her gubernatorial campaign a few weeks ago, but Progressive Party candidate Anthony Pollina has been vying for the votes of Vermonters for more than five months.

On Monday, PolitickerVT.com spoke with Michael Carrese, communications director for Symington's campaign, about what the Democratic candidate for governor anticipated had in store for the months ahead. Today, Pollina's communication director Meg Brook fielded questions about the third-party candidate's second bid to become the state's top executive.

Progressive gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina delivered his first campaign press conference in the Cedar Creek Room at the State House today.

Pollina used the event to focus on the Douglas budget.  read more »

Aides to Progressive gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina are busy planning for the Party’s State Committee Meeting in Montpelier this Sunday. Aides see the event, which will allow supporters to interact with the still-developing Pollina organization, as the campaign’s “internal launch.”