Maine’s Democrat secretary of state said Wednesday she will not rule on Donald Trump’s eligibility for the state’s 2024 presidential ballot until next week. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was supposed to rule on challenges to Trump’s GOP primary ballot status Friday‚ but she delayed the decision following the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling. BREAKING: Colorado Supreme Court BLOCKS Trump From 2024 Ballot! “On Wednesday‚ Bellows gave lawyers for Trump and those challenging him in Maine until 8 p.m. Thursday to file briefs arguing how much bearing the Colorado ruling should have here‚” Bangor Daily News reports. More from the Bangor Daily News: The major Maine challenge came from former Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling and former state Sens. Tom Saviello of Wilton and Kim Rosen of Bucksport. Strimling is a progressive Democrat‚ while Rosen is a Republican and Saviello most recently served in state office as a Republican but is a former Democrat and now is an independent. Their argument largely mirrors the one made successfully in Colorado. The 14th Amendment was passed after the Civil War to keep former Confederates out of federal office and has rarely been used in the modern era. While the lower court there ruled the amendment does not apply to the presidency‚ the high court disagreed. Saviello said the decision should make it easier for Bellows to rule for the challengers‚ noting that she does not have to be the first to make such a decision now. Judges in several other states had turned back similar cases before the Colorado ruling. “Ultimately the Supreme Court is going to decide but until that’s done‚ ‘Donald Trump you can’t be on the ballot‚’” Saviello said‚ summing up an argument he thought Bellows should make. In Maine last week‚ Trump’s lawyers argued that Bellows lacked the power to leave Trump off the ballot. Her decision can be appealed to state courts. Trump’s campaign has assailed the Colorado ruling as well and promised to appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Maine Wire posted footage from a hearing last week in regard to keeping Donald Trump off the state’s 2024 presidential ballot. WATCH: HAPPENING NOW: Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is currently holding a hearing in regard to keeping President Trump off the ballot in Maine. pic.twitter.com/k1Si0YnSA1 — The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) December 15‚ 2023 The Portland Press Herald reports: Strimling‚ Rosen and Saviello also cited Section 3 in a challenge to Trump’s appearing on the Maine primary ballot filed with Bellows earlier this month. Bellows heard arguments from the challengers and attorneys for Trump at a hearing last week. Gaines filed a notice with Bellows Wednesday morning notifying her of the Colorado decision. “Challengers also note that… the Secretary is now bound by the Colorado courts’ findings on all pertinent factual issues‚” the notice said. The Trump campaign has dismissed the challenges and the Colorado ruling as politically motivated. “Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing‚ dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls‚” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement Tuesday night. “They have lost faith in the failed Biden presidency and are now doing everything they can to stop the American voters from throwing them out of office next November.” At issue in Maine are two questions: Does the secretary of state have the authority to decide whether Trump can appear on the ballot? And‚ does the 14th Amendment prohibit him from appearing on the ballot? Attorneys for Trump have argued that Bellows does not have the authority to remove Trump from the ballot on any grounds except in specific circumstances under state law. As 100 Percent Fed Up noted‚ “six states are already vying to follow Colorado’s lead and remove President Trump from the 2024 ballot.” Six More States Now Actively Investigating REMOVAL Of President Trump From 2024 Ballot These states are examining the possibility of using the 14th Amendment to bar Trump from running in the 2024 election due to his alleged involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot. California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis has called on California Secretary of State Shirley Weber to “explore every legal option to remove former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.” “I am prompted by the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s ballot as a Presidential Candidate due to his role in inciting an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol on January 6‚ 2021. This decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country‚” Kounalakis writes. Read the full letter:

The blind hatred for President Donald Trump may very well be the ultimate undoing of the democrat party. After the historic ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court blocked Trump from appearing on the 2024 state ballot‚ many are actually seeing this as a victory for Trump. You can count Frank Luntz among those who feel that way. Luntz‚ a high-profile political pollster‚ feels that democrats made a big mistake in blocking Trump from the Colorado ballot. “Trump is now even more likely to beat Biden‚” said Luntz in an interview on Tuesday. He’s also not alone in that assessment. Several republican strategists feel the same way. Trump is now 'MORE likely to beat Biden' after Colorado ruling: Top pollster says controversial state Supreme Court decision will lead to a huge surge | Daily Mail Online https://t.co/C2eN09hG5n — Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) December 20‚ 2023 Daily Mail broke the story: A bombshell ruling by Colorado to remove Donald Trump from the state’s primary election ballot will be ‘rocket fuel’ for his chances of winning the White House in a 2024 rematch against Joe Biden‚ pollsters and pundits predict. The former president’s son Eric Trump also claimed the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision will increase his father’s frontrunner status in the Republican primary race by at least 5 percent. Luntz expects this to only fuel Trump’s poll numbers: High-profile pollster and political consultant Frank Luntz said in an interview Tuesday that the Colorado ruling will have ‘the same impact as his 91 indictments‚’ which saw Trump’s poll numbers jump. ‘Trump is now even more likely to beat Biden‚’ he predicted in the interview. Trump is facing felony charges in New York‚ Washington‚ D.C.‚ Florida and Georgia related to election interference‚ mishandling of classified documents and hush money payments. With each new set of charges‚ Trump saw boosts to his polling in his already commanding primary race lead. ‘Every time Trump has [h]ad an adverse engagement with the legal system‚ it has been like rocket fuel with Republican voters because it reinforces his core message that he is (and has been) unfairly treated since the moment he burst on to the scene‚’ Republican strategist Scott Jennings said in a statement to DailyMail.com. Check this interview out! Even Frank Dunce gets it…. “Colorado will make Trump’s poll numbers rise.’ 'Trump is now even more likely to beat Biden.' pic.twitter.com/WC7Sa3RVib — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) December 20‚ 2023 Pollster Frank Luntz: Donald Trump Is ‘More Likely to Beat Biden’ After Colorado Ballot Removal https://t.co/YQm5QpFc3t — VRA (@varepall) December 20‚ 2023 Here is more from our friends at Breitbart: “Donald Trump thrives on negativity‚ he thrives on legal systems that try to hold him accountable‚ and I’m convinced that his polling numbers are going to go up‚” Luntz told host Pamela Brown. The strategist cited a recent poll that shows the former president winning in seven crucial swing states‚ arguing that “the more that he is prosecuted‚ the more that he is condemned‚ the higher his numbers go as people rally around him.” “Trump is now even more likely to beat Biden‚” Luntz predicted‚ adding a warning message to the U.S. Justice Department: “You’re actually making it more likely that Donald Trump is elected next November by how you are pursuing this.” It’s hard to argue with his logic here! Colorado has just proven Trump's theory true that he's the victim of political persecution His poll numbers won't drop.On the contrary‚ they will rise. https://t.co/9m0AQNX7Yp — Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) December 20‚ 2023 pic.twitter.com/vkYgDJVc2F — Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) December 20‚ 2023 It seems that many others believe this will only serve to help President Trump in 2024! If Biden and the Dems can’t win fairly they will just try and ban others from running. This will be overturned by the Supreme Court most likely and makes Trump even more popular. Donald Trump has been disqualified from Colorado 2024 ballot. https://t.co/QKTMM4Ps4t — Niall Boylan (@Niall_Boylan) December 20‚ 2023 Stuff like this makes it more likely Trump will be elected. https://t.co/G33vA1kzGI — Christopher Hale (@chrisjollyhale) December 20‚ 2023 pic.twitter.com/fzd0b5gQyV — Tree of Life (@xTreeOfLife) December 19‚ 2023 Meanwhile‚ Joe Biden and the democrats appear desperate: JUST IN — Joe Biden responds to the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot: "He certainly supported an insurrection. No question about it. None. Zero. He seems to be doubling down on about everything." pic.twitter.com/P5z880bexe — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 20‚ 2023 Colorado will make Trump’s poll numbers rise. Colorado just turned RED. Trump is now even more likely to beat Biden. The U.S. Supreme Court will settle the 14th Amendment argument once and for all in January. And America is tired of your BULLSCHIFF! pic.twitter.com/Tb9z7XRaV9 — Pismo (@Pismo_B) December 20‚ 2023

Two television crew members were killed in a helicopter crash in a wooded area in New Jersey. “A pilot and a photographer from our news team were in the helicopter when it went down while returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore‚” CNN affiliate WPVI announced. “Both crew members were killed‚” it added. “My prayers are with the victims of the @6abc helicopter crash and their families. This is a devastating accident‚ especially so close to the holidays‚” Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) said. My prayers are with the victims of the @6abc helicopter crash and their families. This is a devastating accident‚ especially so close to the holidays. https://t.co/mOC8fwazmd — Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) December 20‚ 2023 “Condolences to our colleagues at Channel 6 on loss of their Action News team members in helicopter crash in New Jersey last night. Pilot and photojournalist were aboard when Chopper 6 crashed after 8pm in Wharton State Forest while coming back from an assignment near the shore‚” FOX 29 News reporter Steve Keeley said. Condolences to our colleagues at Channel 6 on loss of their Action News team members in helicopter crash in New Jersey last night. Pilot and photojournalist were aboard when Chopper 6 crashed after 8pm in Wharton State Forest while coming back from an assignment near the shore. pic.twitter.com/NiQm96Nptl — Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) December 20‚ 2023 WPVI reports: It has been a devastating day for the Action News team after two crew members on board Chopper 6 were killed in a crash on Tuesday night. A pilot and a photographer were in the helicopter when it went down in Washington Township‚ New Jersey just after 8 p.m. They were returning from an assignment at the Jersey Shore. The pilot was 67-year-old Monroe Smith of Glenside‚ Pa. and the photographer was 45-year-old Christopher Dougherty of Oreland‚ Pa. They have a long history with our station and have been working as part of the Action News team for years. “Our hearts are just broken for these men. They’re broken for their families‚” reporter Katherine Scott said during a report on Action News. “We just can’t believe this has happened.” News helicopter crash kills pilot‚ photographer in New Jersey | Just The News https://t.co/qHZy77pyDo — John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) December 20‚ 2023 According to CNN‚ the cause of the crash remains unclear. A pilot and a photographer for WPVI-TV‚ a Philadelphia ABC affiliate‚ died Tuesday in a helicopter crash near Washington Township‚ New Jersey. https://t.co/gKbf9FJrbw — The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 20‚ 2023 Per CNN: New Jersey State Park Police received a call about a helicopter that went missing in the area of Wharton State Forest around 10:50 p.m. Tuesday‚ Chief George Fedorczyk said Wednesday morning. Shortly after midnight‚ a state park police officer found the debris field in a remote part of the forest in Washington Township‚ the chief said. A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration arrived overnight‚ Fedorczyk said‚ and a team from the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to arrive Wednesday. The NTSB will lead the investigation into the crash‚ Fedorczyk said. WATCH:

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