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Log inGOP sees an opening for McCain in Maine
GOP sees an opening for McCain in Maine
by Outspoken on Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:33 am
GOP sees an opening for McCain in Maine
Palin's hunter-and-hockey-mom persona and Obama's shrinking lead have McCain looking to win at least two electoral votes here.
By MATT WICKENHEISER
Staff Writer Poretland Press Herald
Pundits have alluded to Maine's potential prominence in presidential politics for months, despite its paltry number of electoral votes.
The fact that Maine is one of only two states that split those votes makes it attractive, they say. The fact that one congressional district is viewed as more conservative than the other adds to that attraction.
Turns out the pundits might be right.
Republican candidate Sen. John McCain announced Thursday that he would drop his efforts in Michigan, essentially conceding the state to Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama. The McCain camp also said that attention and resources would be diverted to battleground states: Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida.
And Maine, with its four electoral votes.
In a Friday e-mail to the McCain-Palin 2008 Maine Steering Committee, McCain Deputy Campaign Manager Christian Ferry noted that Maine has "trended away from the GOP" in presidential elections. Still, the camp has long believed that McCain's "maverick appeal – now enhanced by Gov. Palin's reformer reputation" could resonate in Maine.
"As part of his electoral strategy, Sen. Obama has counted on all four of Maine's electoral votes. That the state is now a toss-up significantly complicates his efforts to achieve the requisite 270 electoral votes to gain the presidency," Ferry wrote. "As one of only two states that (divide their) electoral votes by congressional district, even the one vote associated with (the 2nd Congressional District) could tip the balance in favor of John McCain and Sarah Palin."
Ferry wrote that McCain was 22 percentage points behind Obama statewide in June, but has closed the gap. According to a Sept. 24 SurveyUSA poll of 675 Maine voters, Obama led McCain 49 percent to 44 percent. He held that 5-point lead among both northern and southern Mainers. The poll had a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.
"For a little state like Maine to get so much attention is a reflection of just how precious a commodity an electoral vote is," said Josh Tardy, vice chairman of the McCain campaign in Maine. "Neither campaign would be investing resources (in Maine) if it wasn't competitive."
Both campaigns are trying to attract undecided and unenrolled voters, Tardy said.
"That's what's going to decide the race here in Maine, that's what's going to decide it nationally," Tardy said.
In Maine, as in most states, the unenrolled voters represent a big block.
As of Sept. 8 in the 1st Congressional District, there were 156,928 registered Democrats, 13,587 Green Independents, 127,542 Republicans and 165,792 registered but unenrolled voters.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=213922&ac=PHnws
The Associated Press
Palin's hunter-and-hockey-mom persona and Obama's shrinking lead have McCain looking to win at least two electoral votes here.
By MATT WICKENHEISER
Staff Writer Poretland Press Herald
Pundits have alluded to Maine's potential prominence in presidential politics for months, despite its paltry number of electoral votes.
The fact that Maine is one of only two states that split those votes makes it attractive, they say. The fact that one congressional district is viewed as more conservative than the other adds to that attraction.
Turns out the pundits might be right.
Republican candidate Sen. John McCain announced Thursday that he would drop his efforts in Michigan, essentially conceding the state to Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama. The McCain camp also said that attention and resources would be diverted to battleground states: Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida.
And Maine, with its four electoral votes.
In a Friday e-mail to the McCain-Palin 2008 Maine Steering Committee, McCain Deputy Campaign Manager Christian Ferry noted that Maine has "trended away from the GOP" in presidential elections. Still, the camp has long believed that McCain's "maverick appeal – now enhanced by Gov. Palin's reformer reputation" could resonate in Maine.
"As part of his electoral strategy, Sen. Obama has counted on all four of Maine's electoral votes. That the state is now a toss-up significantly complicates his efforts to achieve the requisite 270 electoral votes to gain the presidency," Ferry wrote. "As one of only two states that (divide their) electoral votes by congressional district, even the one vote associated with (the 2nd Congressional District) could tip the balance in favor of John McCain and Sarah Palin."
Ferry wrote that McCain was 22 percentage points behind Obama statewide in June, but has closed the gap. According to a Sept. 24 SurveyUSA poll of 675 Maine voters, Obama led McCain 49 percent to 44 percent. He held that 5-point lead among both northern and southern Mainers. The poll had a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.
"For a little state like Maine to get so much attention is a reflection of just how precious a commodity an electoral vote is," said Josh Tardy, vice chairman of the McCain campaign in Maine. "Neither campaign would be investing resources (in Maine) if it wasn't competitive."
Both campaigns are trying to attract undecided and unenrolled voters, Tardy said.
"That's what's going to decide the race here in Maine, that's what's going to decide it nationally," Tardy said.
In Maine, as in most states, the unenrolled voters represent a big block.
As of Sept. 8 in the 1st Congressional District, there were 156,928 registered Democrats, 13,587 Green Independents, 127,542 Republicans and 165,792 registered but unenrolled voters.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=213922&ac=PHnws
The Associated Press
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