Brian Duff, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, was quoted in a Maine Public Broacasting Network radio story
May 10, 2010 on a negative ad by Republican gubernatorial candidate
Bruce Poliquin against his Repubican rival Les Otten, alleging that
Otton had mismanaged American Skiing Company as CEO. "I think that's
going to be an effective ad, actually. But in a race this size those
two could take each other out of the fight if they decide to go
negative on each other," Duff says. Duff says Poliquin runs the risk of
offending viewers who don't care for attack ads. On the other hand,
when all seven of the Republican candidates for governor are
emphasizing jobs and the economy, Duff says it could be that Otten is
seen as vulnerable on the topic because of American Skiing's troubled
history. The company was eventually sold off in pieces. "And so if
Poliquin can make the case that Otten is not as legitimate as he seems
on jobs that's going to hurt a lot," Duff says.
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