Al Diamon has made his predictions for this year's gubernatorial race:

I think it’ll come down to Abbott and Rowe in November, with the Republican taking the Blaine House by a narrow margin, thanks to Cutler and Williams siphoning votes from the Democrat.

Diamon was spot on in 2006, but that wasn't exactly a hard race to forecast.

Some video from Abbott's Orono announcement and a statement from Bill Beardsley:

Beardsley is making his official announcement today in Dover Foxcroft. It's a strange choice of venue and it will be interesting to see how many reporters make the hour drive out from Bangor. Beardsley's website is now online as well.

Ignoring Justin Ellis' prohibition, two more Republican candidates have entered the race for governor. Steve Abbott's website is now up, draped in a tasteful maroon reminiscent of his Orono High School days (go Red Riots) and the campaign has three launch events scheduled today in Portland, Orono and Presque Isle. He also has an impressive list of early supporters.

Another Republican seems to be taking a very different tack. Husson College President William Beardsley has registered his candidacy with the ethics commission with zero fanfare.

Update: The BDN reports that Beardsley will have a formal announcement later this week.

Republican sources confirm what Matthew Gagnon is also reporting today - Senator Susan Collins' Chief of Staff Steve Abbott will soon enter the race for governor.

Apparently, Abbot has already made the decision to contest the GOP nomination and was quite open about his intentions while attending the Maine Heritage Policy Center event yesterday in South Portland.

Speculation that Abbott would make the race has been prevalent for more than a year and increased after Abbot sat down for a wide-ranging interview on WLBZ/WCSH last December.

Pat Callahan sat down with Steve Abbott, Susan Collins' chief of staff and campaign manager, to discuss the recent campaign and what's next for the Senator and for Abbott himself.