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For MPBN's Your Vote 2014 live election results, click here.MPBN’s elections compendium is brought to you by AARP, MEMIC and Lambert Coffin.Debates:Click here to watch the 1st Congressional District debateClick here to watch the 2nd Congressional District debateClick here to watch the Senate debateClick here to watch the gubernatorial debateResources:Gubernatorial Race: GridPaul LePage (R)Mike Michaud (D): Profile, Maine Calling interviewEliot Cutler (I): Maine Calling interviewSenate Race: GridSusan Collins (R): Profile, Maine Calling interviewShenna Bellows (D): Profile, Maine Calling interview1st District Congressional Race: GridChellie Pingree (D): Profile, Maine Calling interviewIsaac Misiuk (R): Profile, Maine Calling interviewRichard Murphy (I): Profile, Maine Calling interview2nd District Congressional Race: GridEmily Cain (D): Profile, Maine Calling interviewBruce Poliquin (R): Profile, Maine Calling interviewBlaine Richardson (I): Profile, Maine Calling interviewFor a list of referendum questions, click here.

Maine GOP Holds Unity Rally - Without Defeated Raye

Jay Field

Top Maine Republicans are preaching unity, as they kick off their campaign to hold on to the governor's office and take back the seat in the 2nd Congressional District. Sen. Susan Collins, Gov. Paul LePage and 2nd District nominee Bruce Poliquin joined candidates for statewide office this morning at a rally at Husson University in Bangor. Missing at this morning's event was former Maine Senate President Kevin Raye, who lost a bitter primary race to Poliquin. Both Poliquin and  LePage need Raye's support, and his supporters, to back their campaigns.

A lot has changed since Maine Republicans last gathered in Bangor for their state convention in April.  At the time, party officials breathed a sign of relief when no insurgents, tea party or otherwise, took over the event, as they did in 2012.

Instead, speakers this year talked about how unified the party is.  But since the convention, that unity has been shaken, at least a little bit, by the bitter primary race in the 2nd Congressional District.

So this morning, Republicans came back to Bangor to begin the healing process.

"The elephant pin that I'm wearing today belonged to Margaret Chase Smith," said U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, who told the crowd it was Chase Smith, also a moderate Republican, who first inspired her to run for public office.

Collins told this story after warmly praising Gov. Paul LePage and Bruce Poliquin, two GOP politicians who are a lot more conservative than she is.

"And if Margaret Chase Smith were here today, she would be proud of this team, and she would be telling us that it's important that we work together, that we work hard, that we work smart and that we win in November," Collins said.

Later, Collins explained why it was easy for her to stand side by side with LePage and Poliquin.

"I very much believe in the 'big tent' philosophy of the Republican Party," she said. "And I think it's healthy for the party to have debates, to have primaries, and then come together."

Collins, who's running against Democrat Shenna Bellows, has what looks to be an easy path to re-election. LePage and Poliquin have tougher fights ahead of them. The governor is locked in a three-way race with independent Eliot Cutler and Democrat Mike Michaud. Poliquin will now face Democratic State Sen. Emily Cain in a district that hasn't elected a Republican to Congress since Olympia Snowe's re-election in 1992.

Both men will need the votes of moderate Republicans, and at least some independents, to win in the fall. And both seem to know this. Here's Gov. LePage at the unity rally:

"If we're going to be successful, it takes more than just Republicans. It takes the independents. It takes the people that are unhappy with their party," LePage said.

Poliquin went a step further:

"So right now, we have a room full of Republicans. But I want to reach out to independents and Democrats. Because it doesn't matter - if you don't have a job, or your spouse or your partner doesn't have a job, then you ought to be Republicans," Poliquin said.

"Sen. Collins and I are united," noted Poliquin. "Gov. LePage and I are united."

The one person Poliquin didn't mention was his primary opponent, Kevin Raye, the moderate, former president of the Maine Senate. The two waged a tough campaign filled with personal attacks, charges, counter-charges and negative ads.

Raye has not yet endorsed Poliquin and did not show up at the unity rally. Poliquin wouldn't comment on Raye's absence, leaving Gov. LePage and others to address it instead.

"Kevin Raye ran a good race," LePage said. "There has to be winners and losers. This week, it was Bruce's time. Kevin Raye has given a lot to public service in Maine, and he'll get over this and come back."

The sooner the better for Bruce Poliquin. On election night, after congratulating his opponent on a hard-fought race, Poliquin acknowledged he would need the backing of Raye and his supporters to win in November.