Maine's list for governor

FROM a field of 13 party hopefuls, Maine Republicans and Democrats settled on Susan Collins and Joe Brennan as their gubernatorial nominees this fall.

Ms. Collins is eager to build unity after defeating seven other Republicans on June 14 in her first bid for elective office. And Mr. Brennan, a former two-term governor and congressman, already is striving to shed the old-politics image that his opponents played up in the five-way Democratic primary. The winners of Tuesday's primaries will compete in November to succeed Republican Gov. John McKernan, who is barred by the state Constitution from seeking a third consecutive four-year term.

The major party nominees will face at least two independents in the general election in November: former public television talk-show host Angus King and Green Party activist Jonathan Carter.

Brennan had been considered the front-runner since he announced his candidacy last year because of his high visibility after a career in state politics that has spanned three decades. The Portland resident led the Democratic field in fund-raising, although King tapped his personal resources and spent more.

Implicitly at least, the other candidates portrayed Brennan as a throwback to the past and themselves as better alternatives.