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Log inPresidential winds blew red to blue
Presidential winds blew red to blue
by Outspoken on Sun Nov 16, 2008 7:36 am
In Kennebunkport and many other towns, presidential winds blew red to blue
One-third of the 263 towns that voted for Bush in 2004 deserted the GOP to support Obama, an analysis finds.
By MATT WICKENHEISER and DIETER BRADBURY
Staff Writers Portland Press Herald
KENNEBUNKPORT — When Democrats David and Ann Shultz moved here from Newton, Mass., they knew the political leanings of their new home.
Kennebunkport is the seasonal home of former Republican President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush. Their son, President George W. Bush, is a frequent visitor. The family's seaside compound, Walker's Point, beckons Republicans far and wide to drive by and admire the view.
"I assumed it would be pretty conservative, politically," said David Shultz, owner of Home & Away Gallery at the corner of School and Maine streets.
So Shultz was surprised in 2004, when the town favored George W. Bush over Democrat John Kerry by only 52 votes of about 2,700 votes cast. And this year, after decades of voting Republican in presidential elections, Kennebunkport went overwhelmingly for Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain, 1,479 votes to 1,024 votes, according to unofficial returns compiled by the Bangor Daily News.
"I think it says that things are changing. The population's changing," said Ann Shultz. "The people who are moving in have different ideas. I don't feel quite so different any more."
Kennebunkport is not alone in the red-blue color shift.
Maine had 263 communities vote for Bush in 2004. Of those, at least 83 – or one-third – deserted the GOP and supported Obama this year, based on an analysis of preliminary election results.
Not all results are in, and the returns have not yet been verified by the Secretary of State's Office, so the official numbers won't be known for some time. But it's clear that Republicans can't count on Maine's rural presidential vote.
McCain won only Piscataquis County this year, while Obama claimed Maine's other 15 counties. All told, Obama took 65 percent of the state's more than 500 towns and McCain had 35 percent.
That more than reverses figures from the 2000 election, when 60 percent of towns went for Bush and 40 percent supported Democrat Al Gore.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=222118&ac=PHnws
Staff file photo
Photos By Doug Jones/Staff Photographer
One-third of the 263 towns that voted for Bush in 2004 deserted the GOP to support Obama, an analysis finds.
By MATT WICKENHEISER and DIETER BRADBURY
Staff Writers Portland Press Herald
KENNEBUNKPORT — When Democrats David and Ann Shultz moved here from Newton, Mass., they knew the political leanings of their new home.
Kennebunkport is the seasonal home of former Republican President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush. Their son, President George W. Bush, is a frequent visitor. The family's seaside compound, Walker's Point, beckons Republicans far and wide to drive by and admire the view.
"I assumed it would be pretty conservative, politically," said David Shultz, owner of Home & Away Gallery at the corner of School and Maine streets.
So Shultz was surprised in 2004, when the town favored George W. Bush over Democrat John Kerry by only 52 votes of about 2,700 votes cast. And this year, after decades of voting Republican in presidential elections, Kennebunkport went overwhelmingly for Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain, 1,479 votes to 1,024 votes, according to unofficial returns compiled by the Bangor Daily News.
"I think it says that things are changing. The population's changing," said Ann Shultz. "The people who are moving in have different ideas. I don't feel quite so different any more."
Kennebunkport is not alone in the red-blue color shift.
Maine had 263 communities vote for Bush in 2004. Of those, at least 83 – or one-third – deserted the GOP and supported Obama this year, based on an analysis of preliminary election results.
Not all results are in, and the returns have not yet been verified by the Secretary of State's Office, so the official numbers won't be known for some time. But it's clear that Republicans can't count on Maine's rural presidential vote.
McCain won only Piscataquis County this year, while Obama claimed Maine's other 15 counties. All told, Obama took 65 percent of the state's more than 500 towns and McCain had 35 percent.
That more than reverses figures from the 2000 election, when 60 percent of towns went for Bush and 40 percent supported Democrat Al Gore.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=222118&ac=PHnws
Staff file photo
Photos By Doug Jones/Staff Photographer
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
