According to a statement posted on his campaign blog, GOP gubernatorial candidate Matt Jacobson is boycotting a forum being held by the Portland City Republican Committee.

Jacobson's campaign is protesting the fact that a staff member for rival candidate Bruce Poliquin is running the event and says that this individual has likely rigged the forum in favor of his employer.

"Matt withdrew his support of the event today because of a previously undisclosed conflict of interest between Bruce Poliquin's staff and the Portland City Republican Committee," said Bill Becker, Matt Jacobson's campaign manager. "Though unknown to the other candidates, Poliquin's paid professional fundraiser was also retained by the Portland Republican Committee to orchestrate their forum. A straw poll was then added to the event without the other candidates' knowledge or consent."

"It can't be an objective and level event when one of the candidates’ staff is also the forum's organizer, and when a straw poll is held for just those attendees who had paid the high price of entry. It should have been perceived by the Poliquin campaign as a conflict of interest right from the start. Mainers expect to see campaigns that are fair, ethical and based on issues rather than tired political antics. This just doesn’t pass the straight-face test."