All of your Maine Questions answered in one thread

[CGMike]

Wow, looks like the traffic in here has quadrupled. So to dispel some of the rumors and panic threads that have been popping up, let me throw out a few things...

Mainers are an odd sort (lets face it we're surrounded by canada and new hampshire. We go our own way and don't really listen to outside opinion (ie the other 49 states and the national media)

Little old Portland with its whopping 68,000 residents is considered "the big city" for most Mainers (it is the 2nd largest city in Northern New England) while Boston is so far south that it may as well be considered Atlanta.

The Caucuses are a bit of a convoluted process, but for Maine they work. We're not really worried about the pf/pl slates or the churchers because thats not the most important issues to Mainers (its the economy, tourism is our number one industry after all, followed by taxes, we have a high tax burden here).

The official results from the "straw poll" will be announced on Saturday night by the Cumberland County GOP, however, individual updates will come in to this site from 1st hand accounts (i'll be posting a few results later, and I'll have a report from the biggest caucus of all, Portland where I plan to be a delegate). And remember, the straw poll ISN'T the most important thing...its the # of delegates each town sends to the State Convention in Augusta!

Misinformation might be playing a role in other states, but we haven't seen it here. But if you have a question about something call one of the State offices...

Portland (Maine HQ) -- 699-2909
L/A -- 376-7420
Bangor -- 740-4166

And most importantly, have faith! We're working the phones here at Maine HQ! We're turning out our supporters making sure they know what they need to do when they get to their caucus location (ie BECOME DELEGATES).

Post your questions here and I'll try to answer them about Maine, the caucus process, or anything else on your mind related to the Pine Tree State.

[subdefective]

bump

[USAF Vet Dan]

I see that the official RP Campaign site shows that Maine's caucus is Feb 1 - 3. A three day caucus? How does that work?

THANKS!

[CGMike]

Actually it can be a more than a 3 day caucus. Each Caucus date is left up to the individual City/Town/Plantation Muncipal GOP Chairman. The State GOP has encouraged towns to caucus this weekend to increase Maine's importance in the national picture, however any city/town/plantation can caucus on any date between January 1 and March 30. 95% of the towns are caucusing this Saturday and the straw poll results will be released to the national media that evening.

[bkreigh]

Hey CG Mike any word on how it went in Frankfort? I believe Ken Lindell was heading that one up. Im curious as to how the first town in Waldo County has faired. Thanks!

[ProfNo]

Are any result going to come in tonight?

[CGMike]

I haven't heard from Ken yet...I don't think I'm going to hear back from him tonight, but if I do (either tonight or more likely tomorrow morning) I'll post the results here

[CGMike]

Early results from what I'm hearing

Bridgeton 13 delegates total
Straw Poll results: 25 Romney, 10 Paul, 5 McCain, 3 undecided
Unknown delegate results (but we have a minimum of 4, probably at least 1-2 more)

Gorham 29 delegates total
Straw poll results: 48 Ronmey, 11 Paul, 9 McCain, 2 Huckabee, 2 Ghouliani)
7 Confirmed delegates possibly 2 more as well)

[Iowa4Paul]

Romney again?

God damnit

[bkreigh]

you have got to be shitting me. Freakin Romney. What a dildo.

[CGMike]

Well Ken's Results are in

Frankfort-- 5 delgates total
straw poll results -- 8 Paul, 1 Romney
Delegate Total -- 3 Paul, 1 Romney

[Rangeley]

The Bridgeton results look pretty good, getting at least 4-6+ delegates out of it is probably the single most of any candidate. Do we know the results for the other candidates as far as delegates go in those first towns?

And yay, a first place!

[bkreigh]

WAY TO GO WALDO COUNTY! Do you know if ken will be speaking tomorrow at the Waldo County caucus? He is a very good speaker. I would but my political correctness is not the best to say the least. I would probably throw the F bomb out as well a few times. Then proceed to bash all the other candidates along with all the supporters that are for the others.

[CGMike]

In Gorham, Tagg Romney did the stump speech there and he's going to be attending several county caucuses tomorrow.

[miketwalker]

Question: Are people in place at the larger caucues (obviously you're in Portland) to make sure there aren't weird things like the pro-life/pro-family things popping up? Also, have you been seeing lots of Romney promotions because of Tagg being there? I know I saw a decent amount of attention from the AP for Paul having gone up there, did that help get people interested from what you're seeing?

Good luck!

[bucfish]

Bump for Maine the turning point in the Revolution, I hope

[CGMike]

Well the Romney people are out and about now finally in the state (they got an office open 2 days ago in Portland, however they're concentrating on their base...which is Cumberland and York Counties which unfortunately are full of taxachusetts ex-pats

Nothing unusual reported yet, rest assured we are observing (and learning) from each caucus we attend as observers... Hopefully tomorrow afternoon at 1pm, as Portland Goes, So goes Maine and as Maine goes, so goes the Union.

[Rangeley]

Heres an unofficial running total of the results so far (Freeport, Bridgeton, Gorham, Frankfurt):

Strawpoll
Romney 84
Paul 33
McCain 15
Huckabee 2

Delegates
Paul 25
Romney 6*
McCain 1*

*The actual number is definitely higher than this, but this is as far as has been reported here so far.

[Larry_for_Paul]

This is fantastic Maine. We are all rooting for you.

We're going to a brokered convention.

By then the dollar will have tanked, the recession will be in full bloom and inflation from oil and food will have skyrocketed. McCain will be so tired that he can't even read the manuscripts at his speeches and everyone will hate Romney after his dirty campaign.

[zadrock]

Heres an unofficial running total of the results so far (Freeport, Bridgeton, Gorham, Frankfurt):

Strawpoll
Romney 84
Paul 33
McCain 15
Huckabee 2

Delegates
Paul 25
Romney 6*
McCain 1*

*The actual number is definitely higher than this, but this is as far as has been reported here so far.

Lose the straw poll but win the delegates. That's what I'm talkin bout.

Keep it going Maine! If Paul comes in first, I'm gonna buy a TON of lobster. :p

Z

[bkreigh]

Keep it going Maine! If Paul comes in first, I'm gonna buy a TON of lobster. :p

Z

Make sure you get em with a maine tag on it. You dont want those generic ones! ;)

[devil21]

Lose the straw poll but win the delegates. That's what I'm talkin bout.

Keep it going Maine! If Paul comes in first, I'm gonna buy a TON of lobster. :p

Z

The problem is that we can win all the delegates we want but it doesnt mean a thing if Paul doesnt win 5 states *at the polls*. Delegates are great and are the main focus but he still has to win 5 states to be eligible for the nomination at a brokered national convention. That is my understanding of the GOP rules.

Anyway, keep it up Maine! Take a note from Huck's book and shovel all your snow into Romney voter's driveways lol.

[hueylong]

Most of us know about rule 40(b) and needing 5 states or territories. Maine is the start.

By the way -- it IS delegates. You have to win 'the majority of delegates' in 5 states.

So... as I understand it, Nevada may already have put us on the scoreboard.

[Rangeley]

Yea, the straw poll literally has no bearing on anything.

[devil21]

Most of us know about rule 40(b) and needing 5 states or territories. Maine is the start.

By the way -- it IS delegates. You have to win 'the majority of delegates' in 5 states.

So... as I understand it, Nevada may already have put us on the scoreboard.

Good point. I guess it depends on the state's procedure itself how 40b is applied. Florida was all delegates go to the primary poll winner. Other states are like that as well. Gosh this stuff is confusing :confused:

EDIT: Ah ok. The difference is whether it's a primary state or a caucus state. Got it!

[mello]

Heres an unofficial running total of the results so far (Freeport, Bridgeton, Gorham, Frankfurt):

Strawpoll
Romney 84
Paul 33
McCain 15
Huckabee 2

Delegates
Paul 25
Romney 6*
McCain 1*

*The actual number is definitely higher than this, but this is as far as has been reported here so far.

Are Romney supporters stuffing the ballots again like the Florida Straw Poll?

[r3volution1776]

How many local delegates attend the state convention in maine?

[erowe1]

The problem is that we can win all the delegates we want but it doesnt mean a thing if Paul doesnt win 5 states *at the polls*. Delegates are great and are the main focus but he still has to win 5 states to be eligible for the nomination at a brokered national convention. That is my understanding of the GOP rules.

Anyway, keep it up Maine! Take a note from Huck's book and shovel all your snow into Romney voter's driveways lol.

That's not true. There may be a rule that says he has to win 5 states in an unbrokered convention. But in a brokered convention anybody can win, even someone who never entered the race at all.

[raystone]

any news ?

[CGMike]

I left my official Maine GOP tally sheet at the office but IF every city/town/plantation caucuses then there are approx 3,000 delegates at the state convention. However, only 75%-80% of towns are caucusing and those that don't caucus at all, are not awarded delegates. Those delegates decide the 21 delegates going to National. Hence we win the most state delegates we win the national delegates.

[dawnbt]

you have got to be shitting me. Freakin Romney. What a dildo.

He reminds me of a sleazy used car salesman!

[r3volution1776]

I left my official Maine GOP tally sheet at the office but IF every city/town/plantation caucuses then there are approx 3,000 delegates at the state convention. However, only 75%-80% of towns are caucusing and those that don't caucus at all, are not awarded delegates. Those delegates decide the 21 delegates going to National. Hence we win the most state delegates we win the national delegates.

Thanks, gives us a better perspective of where we stand as the numbers come in, somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 is a majority for the state delegates and if we get that, we win for sure...

[NJNSB]

He reminds me of a sleazy used car salesman!

Eh? Give the man a little credit.

How about a sleazy used "luxury car" salesman?:D

[CGMike]

Correct, and I'm still waiting on word from the Northern Aroostook Caucus, where I'll be very surprised if we don't win up that way. Fellow forum Member SteveMartin is caucusing up that way and i'm sure he'll post the results when he slogs his way back from Fort Kent (a 2 1/2 hour drive for him btw just so you get an idea how big maine is (or at least "the county") area-wise

[hueylong]

Interesting.

[justatrey]

This is interesting - If the straw poll has no bearing on the number of state delegates won, what does? How does a candidate win the state delegates in Maine?

[Joseph Hart]

I wonder what Livermore Falls votes are like. I used to live in that shithole.

[CGMike]

You win the national delegates, by having the most delegates at the state convention, simply put. I don't want to discuss strategy too much in here, but we always looked at the big picture here in the state.

[CGMike]

A little bit of info on "The County"

# Aroostook County Population: 73,938 - US Census Bureau Data 2000
# Population is 5.8% of the state's total population
# Originally part of Washington and Penobscot Counties
# Aroostook is named for an Indian word meaning "beautiful river"
# Incorporated March 16, 1839
# Contains 2 cities, 54 towns, 11 plantations, and 108 unorganized townships
# Density is 11.1 persons per square mile
# Area - 6,672 square miles (21.6% of the state's area): 89% of the County's area is forest, 1% lakes, ponds and rivers, 10% cultivated farmland
# Houlton is the Aroostook County seat with offices in Caribou and Fort Kent
# Maine's northernmost county bordered to the east, west and north by Canada
# Aroostook County is larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined
# Aroostook County is the largest U.S. county east of the Mississippi River.
# Major crops: broccoli, potatoes, hay, small grain rotation crops
# Site of two transatlantic balloon crossing launch sites
# Aroostook County is home to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway

[ProfNo]

You win the national delegates, by having the most delegates at the state convention, simply put. I don't want to discuss strategy too much in here, but we always looked at the big picture here in the state.

First rule of fight club ;)


Sounds like you are doing some really good work :D

[devil21]

That's not true. There may be a rule that says he has to win 5 states in an unbrokered convention. But in a brokered convention anybody can win, even someone who never entered the race at all.

http://www.gop.com/About/Rules31-41.htm

No mention of brokered or otherwise anywhere in the GOP rules. Im curious to read where it's displayed how the brokered convention even works.



(b) Each candidate for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States shall demonstrate the support of a majority of the delegates from each of five (5) or more states, severally, prior to the presentation of the name of that candidate for nomination.

[hueylong]

40(b) has nothing to do with brokered / unbrokered convention.

It is a rule. Period.

You must win the majority of delegates in 5 contests to have your name placed in nomination at the convention.

There is no "brokered convention" in the rules. All that means is that no one goes to the convention with enough delegates to win the nomination, and they have to make a deal with someone else to throw their delegates in. Such deal-making is called "brokering", hence the term "brokered convention".

By the way -- I own brokeredconvention.com. May have to do something with it soon.

[bdmarti]

The way I read it:

let's say Paul failed to have the bound support of the majority of candidates from 5 states and that no nominee manages a majority of total delegates.
When the delegates become unbound, if they support Paul, their new job is to make sure no one gets a majority and petition the chair to submit a new nominee, using the majority support of the now unbound delegates.

I could be wrong though...




(b) Each candidate for nomination for President of the United States and Vice President of the United States shall demonstrate the support of a majority of the delegates from each of five (5) or more states, severally, prior to the presentation of the name of that candidate for nomination....

(d) When at the close of a roll call any candidate for nomination for President of the United States or Vice President of the United States has received a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the convention, the chairman of the convention shall declare that the candidate has been nominated.

(e) If no candidate shall have received such majority, the chairman of the convention shall direct the roll of the states be called again and shall repeat the calling of the roll until a candidate shall have received a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the convention.

(f) For the 2004 Republican National Convention, notwithstanding any other provision of these rules or any Rule of the House of Representatives, it shall be in the discretion of the Chair to suspend the roll call conducted to nominate the candidate for President of the United States at any time in order to conduct other Convention business under the established order of business.

[hueylong]

Well, here's the deal. What you are saying is theoretically correct.

But here's the problem. Even though some of these delegates could become unbound -- it is almost virtually certain that they are already pledged to someone (McCain or Romney).

They likelihood that the majorities of delegates from 5 states would shift from one of the delegate leaders to Dr. Paul -- (if he didn't go to the convention with at least enough states to have his name placed in nomination already) is 1 in a trillion.

[Sarge]

Maine,

Thank you for the hard work. You are making my morning. Make us all proud today.

I hope we also hear some good news from Hawaii tomorrow. They will have all but two completed today. With the time lag it might be Sunday night or Monday before we hear from them.

Good Luck today! Bring one home for Dr. Paul.

[malkusm]

"Density is 11.1 persons per square mile"

Sounds like my kind of place ;)

[RonRules]

.

But here's the problem. Even though some of these delegates could become unbound -- it is almost virtually certain that they are already pledged to someone (McCain or Romney).


Huckabee is out of cash (pretty much) and the MSM put him on IGNORE. He will probably have to drop out after SuperTuesday.

Most GOP delegates are conservatives and there will not be much support for McCain once all the dirt is out on him. (An Coulter seriously stated that she would actually CAMPAIGN for Hillary if McCain was chosen. It's that bad.)

These same conservatives are NOT Mormon and likewise will most likely not support Romney very strongly.

That leaves Ron Paul in good shape, provided there is steady donations of at least 5 mil per month. (Note Barack raised 35 mil in Jan !!!)

It ain't over folks, but we MUST concentrate our efforts on convincing people that are not yet on our side. i.e. Older Republicans and women.

We MUST also totally schmooze these delegates to turn them to our side. One delegate is worth approximately 44,000 votes.

If you know ANY of them, put on all your charm, offer to babysit, bake cookies, they are gems!

I'm starting to hate this process. SuperTuesday should be for the ENTIRE country at once, preventing rich guys to get an early lead. Donations to the campaign should be limited to $2300 INCLUDING the rich guy that's running and corporations.

[Apauled]

anyone have anymore info on the results of your particular caucus to report as you did yesterday?

Thankyou

[subdefective]

The caucuses are going to take hours. We won't have results for a while. The Penobscot county caucus doesn't even start for two hours yet. Be patient everyone. :)

[armstrong]

what happens with the delegates that canidates won in states that have held there primaries and cacusees then dropped out of the race?

[tamor]

CG Mike, thanks so much for keeping us informed.

[UK4Paul]

Yes, thank you CG Mike and all others involved in Maine for your hard work.

[BarryDonegan]

this is a trend as to what happens when ron paul competes financially and others dont. he places high. this is key, as it becomes a romney vs. paul contest in the uninteresting states(most of them)

[ARealConservative]

A little bit of info on "The County"

# Aroostook County Population: 73,938 - US Census Bureau Data 2000
# Population is 5.8% of the state's total population
# Originally part of Washington and Penobscot Counties
# Aroostook is named for an Indian word meaning "beautiful river"
# Incorporated March 16, 1839
# Contains 2 cities, 54 towns, 11 plantations, and 108 unorganized townships
# Density is 11.1 persons per square mile
# Area - 6,672 square miles (21.6% of the state's area): 89% of the County's area is forest, 1% lakes, ponds and rivers, 10% cultivated farmland
# Houlton is the Aroostook County seat with offices in Caribou and Fort Kent
# Maine's northernmost county bordered to the east, west and north by Canada
# Aroostook County is larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined
# Aroostook County is the largest U.S. county east of the Mississippi River.
# Major crops: broccoli, potatoes, hay, small grain rotation crops
# Site of two transatlantic balloon crossing launch sites
# Aroostook County is home to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway

I've been there - Loring Air Force Base specifically.

[Misesian]

That's not true. There may be a rule that says he has to win 5 states in an unbrokered convention. But in a brokered convention anybody can win, even someone who never entered the race at all.

Yeah, this was my understanding always until people here said the 5 state rule in brokered. I'm pretty sure that's not the case because there's talks about candidates who aren't even RUNNING picking up the nod in a brokered convention.

[Jwaksman]

Yeah, this was my understanding always until people here said the 5 state rule in brokered. I'm pretty sure that's not the case because there's talks about candidates who aren't even RUNNING picking up the nod in a brokered convention.



Yeah, I've heard people talking about everyone getting fed up at the convention and just voting in Fred Thompson to bring back a more pure conservative than either Romney or McCain. I believe this is what happened with Warren G Harding in 1920, where he wasn't a top competitor but due to some back-room dealings became a top competitor on the 7th or 8th ballot.


I don't know if the rules have changed, though. But we all know this - the rules are intentionally complex in order to make sure that the party insiders have their way. This is what I tell people as I work towards getting us a delegate out of Dane County, Wisconsin. We need to out-insider the insiders.

[armstrong]

so Huck wins iowa and drops out , are his delagates ?free to support any one still running for nominee?

[Crickett]

Well, I have a question. Since you are reporting some delegates, I would assume that these caususing places ARE over now, right? I mean..no one can come in and snatch more delegates, right? If so, then great. If not, and they aren't going to be over until Monday I still feel insecure about giving out info. Those Romney people are merciless...