As many people fall deeper into the comfort of their beds early this morning, organizers of Maine’s Republican caucuses are busy readying for a day of business.
The Republican Presidential Preference Poll is the major event, and as York County Republican Committee Chairman Ron Morrell says, all eyes will be on Maine.
Although statute requires all caucuses be complete within about a two-month window, the Maine Republican Party has encouraged towns to caucus within a one-week span ”“ starting last weekend and culminating tonight with the announcement of the results of the Presidential Preference Poll in Portland.
Mike Quatrano, executive director of the Maine Republican Party, said this week in a phone interview that the state is getting national attention, and even former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney planned a visit Friday and into Saturday to campaign in Maine. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul was also planning a return trip, with a stop at the York County caucus on his agenda.
“We’ve actually garnered a lot of attention this cycle,” Quatrano said.
He has received calls from media around the country, including CNN and the Wall Street Journal.
Although the preference poll does not bind delegates to vote for the candidate who “wins,” the process will show where Maine Republicans’ support lies, which will likely give a boost to the candidate who does most favorably.
“A lot of people are more interested and more involved, but we’ve changed the way we do it for all these towns that used to do this on the same day, the same way, every year,” Quatrano said.
Here in York County, 22 of 29 towns will caucus at Veterans War Memorial Gymnasium in front of Sanford High School, starting at 9 a.m.
Registrars from each town will be there to register voters between 8-9 a.m., and the speakers representing candidates for U.S. Senate and House races as well as state and local races will have the chance to speak to the crowd from about 9-11 a.m., according to Morrell. Following that, towns will break off into smaller meeting spaces to elect their committee officers and delegates to the state convention. The Presidential Preference Poll will then be taken, and the process should be complete around noon, he said.
State-wide results will be announced later in the evening in Portland.
Although the process may seem daunting, Morrell encourages people to participate.
“We are the only state caucusing on Saturday, and because there is no clear winner, Maine has a chance to impact the future here,” he said. “This is the essence of what this (process) is about.”
Morrell said he has heard many people who are clear on which presidential candidate they support, but others are torn and have reserved judgment on who they will support today.
Quatrano agreed, “It’s a mixed bag,” he said.
With Romney and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania split on victories ”“ each claiming three ”“ and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich with one win, the field remains open. Romney currently has the most delegates at 112, but that’s a far cry from the 1,144 needed to clinch the Republican nomination.
Last Saturday in Saco, support seemed to be split among those taking part in the city caucus as well.
“I dragged myself out of bed because I want to vote for Ron Paul,” said Katrina Desjardins, a 26-year-old, first-time caucus-goer. “I’d never been interested in politics before I heard him speak in the debates and his talking points.”
Desjardins said the Texas congressman’s views on liberty and smaller government resonate with her. Although she wasn’t sure what to expect, she said she would be a repeat customer ”“ “I’ll definitely participate again.”
Seated a few rows away, another first-timer, Don Osman, was there to support his choice: Rick Santorum.
“I think out of all the candidates, he’s the most conservative, and I’m a strict conservative,” said Osman, a long-time voter, who had never participated in a caucus. “He has good, faith-based values. He has a good plan for the direction of the country.”
Others were not so sure.
Mary Schiavoni, who said she has participated in caucuses for a number of years, said she has her own business, but is concerned about jobs.
“I’m pretty open to hear what people have to say,” she said.
Saco Republican Committee Chairman Daniel Carter was optimistic about the day, and said before the caucus started that he hoped to get a few more people through the doors and get through the morning in a timely manner.
He added that primaries may have more impact on the national scene, but Maine does seem to be getting a little more exposure this year.
Quatrano said the primary votes do often garner much attention in the national media, but completing the process of a primary vote at the ballot box is a major expense.
Wherever the process goes in the future, Morrell was sure of one thing: “There’s a lot of interest, a lot of excitement. ”¦ It’s anything but done.”
— City Editor Robyn Burnham can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 329 or rburnham@journaltribune.com.
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