In a show of Republican infighting not seen since last week's column, prominent members of the Maine GOP have begun to call for the resignation of state party treasurer Philip Roy, who was reelected to his post last month.

According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a think tank promoting local control and community building, Maine is one of 39 states that provides some preference to bids for government contracts from in-state companies. Specifically, in the case of tie bids between a Maine company and an out-of-state one, the former bid is given preference.

Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins hold a huge amount of power this week as they mull Obama's economic recovery package. National groups are buying ads to try to influence their vote, local groups are working to create grassroots pressure and President Obama has turned the leftovers from his election campaign into an organization to support his policy. They'll be holding house meetings