Bruce Poliquin, who who soon be receiving bouquets of flowers from most of the other Republican candidates, has launched the first negative ad of the 2010 race - a full frontal assault on Otten's record as job creator.

(via PTP)

I'm surprised any GOP candidate would go negative, even against a front-runner with as much baggage as Otten. Poliquin now leaves himself open to charges of negative campaigning (always a popular accusation in Maine politics). In a 7-way race, there are plenty of other candidates who stand to gain from this kind of conflict.