Regionalization key to Maine caucus organization

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

At the Maine Democratic Party headquarters, caucus packets are set to be sent out to Waldo County.

Leaders of both the state Democratic and Republican parties are predicting a high turnout this year – and maybe even a visit from a candidate (or at least a high level surrogate.)

With the races being so close leading up to the caucuses, Maine may play a role in deciding the nominee.

If candidates choose to come, it will likely be a last minute announcement, said Mark Ellis, chairman of the Maine Republican Party.

The Republicans are putting final touches on the schedule for their regional caucuses. Towns are grouped together to encourage higher participation, and also to make them more appealing to candidates.

Arden Manning, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party, prepares caucus packets for Waldo County towns. The Maine Democratic Party is seeing absentee ballots come in at a much higher rate than in 2004, Executive director Arden Manning said. This is the second time the party has done absentee balloting for caucuses.

So far 280 caucuses are organized on the town level. There are going to be some small towns that don’t organize, Manning said, and in that case a nearby large town will take responsibility.

A few towns will be grouped together, often by legislative districts to make the caucus easier for legislators or state candidates to attend, Manning said.

JESSICA ALAIMO is a PolitickerME.com Reporter and can be reached via email at jessica.alaimo@politickerme.com.

Related topics: Mark Ellis, Arden Manning, caucuscountdown

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Comments

One last chance

posted by Gerald Weinand

GOP and Green Party members wishing to participate in the Dem Caucus must change their party affiliation by Friday, 25 Jan. Independents (un-enrolled) can join the Dem Party at their caucus site.

Dem Party members can also participate by absentee ballot.

01/24/08 9:56 pm

Where's your Democratic caucus?

posted by downeasta

Find out at http://www.mainedems.org/caucus08.aspx

Absentee ballot applications are available from the same page.

01/27/08 12:13 pm

Where's your Republican Caucus?

posted by Matthew Schaeffer

The following link is whre you can find where the Republican sare holding their caucus per town as well as contact information.

http://www.mainegop.com/FlexPage.aspx?area=caucus2008schedule

01/28/08 7:40 am

Let us look at McCain’s

posted by Melissa

Let us look at McCain’s conservative credentials:

-IMMIGRATION: he wrote the bill granting amnesty to illegal immigrants (co-sponsored by Ted Kennedy)
-SOCIAL SECURITY: he voted to give your social security money to illegal immigrants
-TAXES: he voted against the Bush tax cuts multiple times (he has since flip-flopped and has campaigned as a lifelong tax-cutter)
-ENERGY TAX: wrote a bill (co-sponsored by his buddy Lieberman) imposing a massive tax on energy which, according to the Department of Energy, would drastically raise the price of gasoline and put 300,000 Americans out of work
-GLOBAL WARMING: supports radical global warming legislation which involved him voting with every Democrat; think only America is responsible to take action, not other superpowers
-JUDGES: he joined forces with Democrats (Gang of 14) to block the Senate Republican’s attempt to confirm conservative, strict constructionist judges
-WAR ON TERROR: fought with Hillary Clinton to demand that terrorists be given a full American trial
-GAY MARRIAGE: he joined liberals to fight against a federal marriage amendment supporting the institution of traditional marriage
-CHRISTIANS: campaigning in 2000, he famously described Christian leaders as “agents of intolerance”
-PRO-LIFE: he filed an amicus brief against pro-life advocates in Wisconsin
-BI-PARTISANSHIP: he met with leading Democrats in 2004 to discuss the possibility of being John Kerry’s Vice-President
-PROFESSIONAL ETHICS: ringleader of the infamous Keating 5 ethical scandal which cost US tax payers $160 billion (Google it)
-PERSONAL ETHICS: McCain cheated on his first wife after she had a severe accident that left her partially disabled. He then divorced her and married his multi-millionaire mistress, whose daddy bought McCain a spot in the Congress

01/30/08 6:40 pm