The field of candidates has narrowed over the past three weeks but still no clear frontrunner has emerged, which is expected to result in a large turnout by Maine Republicans as they hold presidential nominating caucuses throughout the state over the next several weeks.
Adding to the interest is the potential for several of the four remaining GOP candidates to campaign here, including Texas Rep. Ron Paul, whose supporters announced plans Monday for him to be in the state on Friday and Saturday.
There have been three statewide primaries or caucuses conducted out of Maine already, and each has resulted in a different winner. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania narrowly won the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3; former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the Jan. 10 New Hampshire primary; and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary last weekend.
Michael Quatrano, executive director of the Maine Republican Party, said Monday that he thinks the tightness of the race will lead to a good turnout at the Maine Republican caucuses, which are expected to begin in earnest the first weekend of February.
“There’s a lot of people who haven’t made their minds up,” Quatrano said. “It has that [anticipated] feel about it. It’s important.”
Quatrano said the Romney and Paul campaigns each have had a strong presence in Maine but that Santorum and Gingrich also have support among Maine GOP voters. Romney won Maine’s caucuses in 2008, when he took 52 percent of the vote, and Paul got 18 percent. The eventual 2008 Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, got 21 percent four years ago.
Quatrano said the 2012 Maine caucuses could draw out more GOP voters than the ones in 2008, which attracted more than 4,500 registered Republicans, but he stopped short of making a prediction.
As it did in 2008, when Maine’s position in the primary season drew Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to Bangor, the contested GOP race this year feasibly could result in multiple Republican candidates coming to Maine. After Maine, Arizona, Michigan and Washington are expected to hold votes for the Republican candidates before the 11-state “Super Tuesday” contest on March 6.
According to the Free Press newspaper of University of Southern Maine, Paul is scheduled to speak at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at USM’s Gorham campus. Paul made a campaign appearance at USM’s Portland campus in 2008.
Paul campaign staffers sent out information Sunday indicating that Paul likely would make other appearances in Maine on Jan. 27 and 28 but that details had yet to be worked out.
The earliest GOP caucuses in Maine this year take place at the end of this month and some are scheduled to be held after Valentine’s Day, but Quatrano said he expects most of them to be done by the evening of Saturday, Feb. 11.
“I think there will be only a few stragglers left at that point,” Quatrano said.
He said the Maine Republican Party plans to announce at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, how the candidates did in Maine’s caucuses.
Eight counties in Maine each plan to have a single countywide caucus — Feb. 4, 5 and 11 — while in other counties the meetings will be held at different locations, often on different days. Some, such as municipal caucuses in Fairfield and Millinocket, are scheduled to be held before the end of January. At the other end of the schedule, about a dozen towns in Hancock County are expected to hold their caucuses on Feb. 18.
More specific information about where and when Republican Party caucuses will be held in Maine is available at the party’s website, www.mainegop.com.
Democrats, who are expected to renominate President Barack Obama, are scheduled to hold caucuses throughout Maine on Sunday, Feb. 26.
Follow BDN reporter Bill Trotter on Twitter at @billtrotter.
I wonder if Mr. LePage with show up to kiss the father of the Tea Party the way he suggested the NAACP kiss him? It’s a real classy bunch. Perhaps for them that’s some kind of sign of respect?
good lord, are you blind?….many, many, many folks are coming across from the Obama camp to support Paul simply because the guy talks common sense and real values to the face of all you religious and government zeaolots out there preaching welfare / warfare yada, yada, yada….
please, stop droning on with the inane banter SR and gather yourself a solid backbone with which to support a solid, principled position for once already…
Don’t even waste your keystrokes on this d-bag. He/she is unable to engage in any type of logical debate. They just try to incite.
Oh look! More nice attacking of individuals. You folks sure are consistent. Consistently not the kind of people most Americans want in leadership roles, nor for that matter as neighbors.
Kettle calling pot black.
You have to admit, Ron Paul is the Anti-Repub
No I’d say simply a more radical version of a conservative philosophy where money is always but first and people second. Additionally as we’ve seen, in the eyes of some who follow the Tea Party some of the people aren’t even worth keeping alive. Who will they select to be among the living? Never thought I’d live in such times, but here we are.
“in the eyes of some who follow the Tea Party some of the people aren’t even worth keeping alive”
__________________________________________________________________
Reach much? Why don’t you back this statement up with some real examples and then put the broad paint brush away.
Once again you have no idea what you are talking about http://www.mediaite.com/tv/rick-santelli-if-it-wasnt-for-the-tea-party-america-would-have-been-rated-triple-b/
Paul has been VERY consistent in his views and is the ONLY candidate deserving of the GOP nomination. Romney and Gingrich have waffled so many times over their careers. They are both typical politicians beholden to the highest bidder. Santorum is is plainly an christian-taliban hypocrit hellbent on a crusade against Islam and the WORST possible thing that could happen to this country. Theocracy anyone?
If Paul gets the GOP nomination, I vote Paul. Otherwise, another four years of Obama while not ideal is better than the alternative
One of the worst things that could happen if either Romney, Newt the Fruit, and Sanitarium became president, then we would have to wait another eight years before we could have a candidate like Ron Paul to run as a republican. Otherwise our only hope would be a third party candidate in 2016.
Like all of us, Ron Paul is not perfect.
but…. He is the only one who has a backbone and tells it like it is.
Ron Paul is refreshing compared with the rest.
Even if he is a racist…
the sad part of all these candidates is when they come to Maine they come to the other Maine.For us in the county no one that means any thing comes to talk to us.Don’t get me wrong I thank Susan Collins for her support for us by make no mistake about it she is a county girl with Hugh ties as S.W Collins lumber company founded by her parents is a multimillion dollar gig which is her bread and butter long after her political career ends. we never see any of the candidates for president as we as infatesimal in the whole grand scieme in there minds
Jeff, the S.W. Collins lumber company was founded 165 years ago, not by her parents. Furthermore it’s not a “gig” it’s a long runnng successful business.
Ron Paul 2012
Susan Collins has bread-and-butter for life thanks to the voters and the Congress which provides itself with an obscene pension system, high-end health care and generous survivor benefits for life! She may, however, have to start paying her own hairdresser … sad to say!
If you support Ron Paul, get to your local caucus and support him as a delegate…both Mitt and Newt are truly career politicians with a long history of saying what voters want to hear before the elections, but doing otherwise once in office. We don’t need flip-flopping statusquo enablers now, we desperately need an honest man of integrity who is known to not only talk the talk consistently, but has walked the walk to match his talk over his entire career. Support Ron Paul. Become a delegate and make a real difference in 2012. YOU can make a difference…each and everyone of us who acts on what we believe CAN make a difference. #GrassrootsActivismRules
I will write in Ron Paul’s name even if he doesn’t get the nomination. The GOP establishment wants nothing to do with him and will do their best to see that he doesn’t get it. If everybody, who truly believes that Ron Paul is the guy, actually writes his name in during the presidential election instead of voting for who they are told to vote for, things could get very interesting. I have a gut feeling that there will be a lot of Obama defectors come over to the Paul camp. I understand that Ron Paul is human and is not the perfect candidate, but he’s the best there is out there by a long shot. I will vote on principle, not American Idol style.
I am an Obama Independent who will definately be voting for Ron Paul!
Ron Paul 2012!
Voting for Romney or Gingrich means you are in favor of the corporate elite running the country and TELLING you what is best.
A vote for Ron Paul means you believe in the U.S. Constitution. It means once again the government will be FOR THE PEOPLE and BY THE PEOPLE!
Is the Constitution truly something people ought “believe in” such as believing in a deity or is it a set of national by-laws one agrees to be governed under? To me, it’s the latter, and it needs substantial amending before it can be used to engender and defend popular democracy. Very few, more likely none, participating in the Constitutional convention of 1787 would have agreed with the conclusion of your comment. Lincoln believed it and said so at Gettysburg. He was in a minority then and might be today.
The founders abhorred democracy (i.e.: mob rule in which 51% can force anything onto the other 49%) and the Constitution was written not to defend popular democracy, but defend against it by protecting the liberty of all individuals. We have a Republic…not a democracy.
Gee I hope I don’t fall off the edge of my seat. Jerry Brown came to Ellsworth High School once, I suspect this will be equally historically significant.
There are some things Mr. Paul says that I agree with like – cut military spending and cease being the world’s police, which is so un-Republican. Besides that he pretty much wants to allow corporations to have free reign to do as they please, which equates to anarchy when extrapolated.
Many positions/policies that Obama has taken I didn’t agree with, but the results of his right-of-center policies have forced Republicans who oppose him just because, into taking Extreme positions. One thing for sure,
I’ve had enough of what Texas has to offer.
Santorum 2012
Santorum is a lowly puke who would love to turn to the USA in to a theocracy and launch as crusade against Islam. If you want a religious fight, move to Israel.
Ok, other than Santorum, who do you support
Obama who wants mandatory governmental healthcare, a ban on the 2nd amendment and supports Quimby
Romney that is just as bad as Obama
Paul who wants to do away with social security, and “is fine” with letting Iran call the shots in the middle east
So really, who do you support…?
The GOP is ignoring its best candidate (Paul) and has already kicked the other good ones to the curb… John Huntsman and Gary Johnson. Let me clear on one thing. I don’t agree with all of Paul’s views, however when you look at the big picture. He is the guy that doesn’t meet with lobbyists; who has never voted himself a pay raise. He is the one who is against the Patriot Act; against these wars that a president himself has no legal authority to engage in. Do I really think that Paul himself will be able to do away with social security? No. Congress needs to send him a law for him to sign to do so. Let me also ask you this, why do we feel we need to be the worlds policeman? Second, wouldn’t we feel threatened if China put bases in Cuba, Canada and Mexico? I am not advocating that we isolate ourselves from world events but we need to use the coalitions that we already have instead of wasting all of our tax dollars on these worldwide excursions while we fall deeper and deeper and DEEPER into debt.
The “only” thing I can agree with you on is that Hunstman was a good candidate, other than that…..
Just curious… how does Santorums brand of social conservatism make him a “good” president. He is a BIG government type whether it be pursuing our (Islamic) enemies; prohibiting all abortions EVEN in cases of rape; already stated he would work to repeal gays who serve in the military. This guy has 19th century ideas in a 21st century world. I honestly would rather have Bush back as a more “moderate” alternative to Santorum.
Yeah, I’d like George back to..
That should disqualify you from voting… (Just kidding!)
Bush was a major failure on conservatives principals and loved to abuse his powers.
“Power Abuse” can we say Kennedy, Johnson & Clinton….
Ok, you’re just trolling now.
Ron Paul 2012
Really…?
Ron Paul doesn’t get rid of Social Security. that is a strawman.. if all you have against Ron Paul is the strawmen built up by MSNBC vote for him. Seriously. “he wants to end student aid” wrong his plan frees up money for student aid and to help students with debt, Ron Paul is so anti-socialist he has said things like “We spend enough money on the Drug War we could feed every child 2 meals a day” “The Left cries about trickle down economics and i agree with them but they pool tax money and trickle it down through buecracy just like the big government neo-conservaties… and Iran.. did you know Saudi Arabia a nation that does attack the United States is getting nuclear technology from China? Iran wants to cure cancer,produce power, maybe have a nuclear powered submarine one day. Saudi Arabi said “we want a bomb” there is so much lies and bias going on. you need to put more effort into “Who is Ron Paul ?” “Austrian Economics has more Socialism in it then Keyensian Economics because Keyensians create through destruction while Austrians save and produce. The easiest way to know a persons stance on Social Programs is to ask about War. 1 group will say “War creates jobs” another group would argue that “Warfare eats up all our welfare” Ron Paul is the anti-war candidate because we Need Social Security, We need Medicare, We need our dollar to stop losing value, we don’t need another war and we don’t need more debt we need to change direction. Iran would be toasted by the US in 45mins so we have nothing to fear from them, the danger is our willingness to over react to this.
Right…
Santorum is a better choice than Romney and Gingrich, but I’d be cautious about his willingness to say WHATEVER the voters want to hear. He has already made some pretty brash statements to the press and those statements made him sound slightly similar to LePage!!! I feel like he is only acting this way to get the majority of the voters to follow him after Romney and Gingrich drive eachother’s names into the dirt…But remember that Santorum is taking money from corporations and pushing money at media networks. Ron Paul isn’t doing any of that. He is running the FAIR WAY. Good luck in the voting booth! Santorun is a smart choice!
If the definition of a liberal is someone who is open to new ideas,then IMHO the founding fathers were very liberal to start a new government for the people and by the people instead of a monarchy. And this “liberal” is defecting from the Obama camp and rooting myself firmly in Ron Pauls corner. He thinks as I do that its not the purpose of government to meddle in Americans personnel lives. He is the ONLY candidate who understands or cares about the contents of our Constitution. I believe he can make America the wonderful haven for freedom that we as citizens all enjoyed up untill about the time tricky dick was in office.
CENSORSHIP IS ANTI AMERICAN BDN. THEREFORE YOUR NEWS ORGANIZATION IS ANTI AMERICAN AND YOU DONT BELONG IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE THE FLOW OF IDEAS AND FREE SPEECH IS SUPPOSED TO BE UNIMPEDED. IM TIRED OF HAVING MY COMMENTS “APPROVED BY A MODERATOR”. YOU ARE A PART OF WHAT HAS GONE WRONG WITH OUR FREE SOCIETY. SINCERELY, A OBAMA DEFECTOR WHO SUPPORTS RON PAUL.
lol
My wife and I will be there to show our support for the only person that will guarantee that my children and I have a future.
This election shouldn’t be about parties. It should be about whats right for our children’s future. We need to stop thinking about now and start thinking about what our children face. Every child today is born with over 100k in debt. How is this right? The only thing to do is cut spending and cut government. Ron Paul 2012
Karl Rove, the head of the stealth national Republican establishment is a disaster. After bringing the republicans to the puking stage by advising Bush in 2004-08.. now he has managed to put the GOP in a whirlpool of trouble in this election. Imagine the obvious, his sad political advice even allowed Obama to be elected and his DC connected insiders hand-picked trust fund baby candidate – Romney, who can’t make the sale with the public this year. Note to republican voters.. avoid Rove like the plague.. if that means giving up your Foxnews where he makes his home .. then so be it. New blood is reforming the old tired core planks by adjusting to the new realities. It’s time to demand that Rove take his incompetent heavy hands off the off the parties working mechanics and retire before the party sinks even deeper into the muck. Oh, ya .. and Rove’s drive-by shooting victims: Gary Johnson, Mich Daniels, Ron Paul, Rich Perry, Sarah P, Sharron Angle, Michael Bachmann, Paul Pawlenty, Michael Steele, Howard Phillips, and many others may have been sucker punched out of the ring.. but are training hard for the next round. It’s not too late to take back your Life and Country from the RINO Republicans and Democrat thugs .. Register as a Libertarian, Join a tea party, and Support Ron Paul.
I’m not a Republican or Democrat but from what I have heard from Ron Paul, he is clearly the strongest candidate out there.
The Circus is coming!
Geeks and Clowns!
goodie!
Yep. That’s one smart dude dat dare ron paul. So smart that after all that time in congress, writing or co-sponsoring over 600 bills his fellow congress members voted to pass 1, ONE bill passed. Gotta give him credit for persistence though. His son the senetor is another matter.
AWESOME! I’m excited for Ron Paul to come to Maine. He has the most political experience of all the Presidential runners. I’d like to see him surpass all the media junk and mud slinging of the money-greedy Mit Romney and the woman-hater, sexist Newton Gingrich…BUT Ron Paul doesn’t take money from the corporate super packs and doesn’t throw money at the media network corporations so I’m fairly sure the best man unfortunately WON’T WIN =(
American politics are so messed up!
He CAN WIN!!!
WHO IS RON PAUL?
He has NEVER voted to raise taxes.
He has NEVER voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has NEVER voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has NEVER voted to raise congressional pay.
He has NEVER taken a government-paid junket.
He has NEVER voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
He voted AGAINST the Patriot Act.
He voted AGAINST regulating the Internet.
He voted AGAINST the Iraq war.
He DOES NOT participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year. I’m voting common sense, how about you? Vote Dr. Ron Paul 2012!
Ron Paul 2012!
I know I am in the minority here because it looks like the Paul supporters are again out in full force, but the other side of the coin needs to be voiced. And here it is: No wonder Ron Paul is making plans to come to Maine…after all, we voted one fool (LePage) into office, why not another? So Paul must figure his chances are good here. People in the state of Maine obviously trust people at face value without digging deeper. If it sounds good, then that’s all that most Maine people really care about! No income tax? Yep, that sounds good, right? But what about the ramifications? Bring ALL troops home…That, too, sounds good but it puts our nation at risk! Cut a trillion dollars in ONE year? Again that sounds good but is it reasonable and practical and financially sound? NO! Be forewarned…review his history and what he has said in the past about social security, medicare, subsidized housing, just to name a few of the policies he likes to dodge the real truth on. What he has stated openly in 2008 and in years before is how he REALLY believes. He is NOT as honest as people in this forum thinks he is. And anyone who wants to legalize ALL narcotic drugs is CRAZY—Maine already has a horrendous problem with drug addiction…do you really want to exacerbate the drug problem here and put your kids at further risk? A vote for Ron Paul puts our nation and its people at risk. Many of his ideas (most but not all) are dangerous for the health of the nation.Think about it…