McGrath to lead Obama campaign in Maine

See also: McCain's state director to start Monday

Early last year, before “Obama-mania” became mainstream among Democrats, Maine House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, got a signed copy of Barack Obama’s book, The Audacity of Hope, in the mail.

It was his chief of staff, Toby McGrath, who had arranged for the book to be sent, and Cummings credits him for leading him to the candidate who would become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

McGrath started a new job last week as state director for the Obama campaign. McGrath has been volunteering for Obama since February of 2007.

(Photo: Toby McGrath (center), the new state director for Barack Obama's campaign, talks with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and state Sen. Peggy Rotundo in Lewiston Friday.)

Bill Brown, who previously served as a special assistant to the speaker, took over as chief of staff last week.

So far the Obama campaign is going very well in the state, McGrath said. He said he requested for Obama to visit the state, but is not sure yet if he will come.

When there was a full field of potential Democratic candidates, Cummings was the highest ranking Maine official to support Obama. Gov. John Baldacci initially supported Hillary Clinton, and Senate President Beth Edmonds supported John Edwards.

Cummings said McGrath is one of the best political strategists in the state, and hiring him was a smart move for the Obama campaign.

“Toby has been an extremely effective chief of staff,” Cummings said. “He was one of the architects in bringing our one-seat lead (in the House) to a 30-seat lead.”