Call your local newspaper.

Some supporters have talked to me about a "November surprise". Not that they think I will win, but they feel that I am unique and in fact the best hope for Maine over four years (some feel I'll grow into the position and have good potential in that regard). I'm not predicting victory and it is up to the voters to decide who is the candidate who would be best able to work with others in leading our state.

We've made our case. Now it's your turn (if you wish) to have political courage. To all of you that have told me that you feel I am or may be the best candidate but that you are "afraid" or "hesitant" to publicly announce this because of what others might think or say, I ask you to move beyond that.

Kind of self-serving it might sound, I know.

We all have obligations to each other in this world, I believe, but only those that we take on of our own choosing. And also those that life presents to us as opportunities.

Maine is a courageous state. It will take all of that courage, all that we can muster, to move forward.

And move forward we must.

A part of me doesn't care whether I get 100 votes, 1,000, 10,000 100,000 or more as long as I know that all those who believe in our campaign and what we are trying to accomplish spoke up and had a chance to be heard. I've tried to set a positive tone and example for that type of action, and any limitations, if any, that I've shown in regard to being a successful proponent of that I hope that you would not similarly let them limit you in regard to your course of action.

In this life we are each free to do as we choose, but so are all other people. That makes us accountable to each other to insure that we treat each other well (or fairly at a minimum). I need your help at this time -- this is the very moment when I need it -- and I humbly ask any that have courage and believe in our message to proclaim it.

If we lose badly we lose badly. It will be just another day and the sun will still shine. But if we've given less than our best, less than in our hearts and minds than we wanted to give and knew we could give or should give, then isn't that a somewhat sad way to live?

Yes, we should always be prudent but I believe that we should also be bold. I ask you, if you wish, to be appropriately bold.

That won't hurt Maine (I believe the contrary) and it's really kind of fun in a way.

Thank you very much.

Alex Hammer is an Independent candidate for Governor residing in Bangor. The campaign's website is www.hammer2006.politicalgateway.com