Notes, Quotes From 2004 Campaign in Maine
Fri Oct 1, 2:35 PM ET
By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer
President Bush and Sen. John Kerry could end up dividing Maine's four
electoral votes.
Unlike most states, which have winner-take-all systems for their electoral
votes, Maine gives two to the statewide winner and one to the victor in each of
Maine's two congressional districts.
Kerry's advisers say their polls show the Democrat leading Bush statewide and
in the state's southern congressional district. The northern district is the
most competitive.
Bush's advisers say their boss is slightly ahead of Kerry statewide. Public
polls show the race tight.
Democrat Al Gore won the state 49 percent to 44 percent in 2000, with
independent Ralph Nader taking nearly 6 percent of the vote. Democrats are suing
in an effort to keep Nader off the ticket this year.
Maine is one of several states won by Gore that Bush has a chance to put into
the GOP column Nov. 2. The biggest threats for Kerry are Wisconsin, Iowa and New
Mexico, his advisers say. They are a bit less worried about Minnesota, Michigan,
Pennsylvania and Maine, but acknowledge that Bush is pressuring them.
Bush's family owns an oceanside estate in Kennebunkport, a Republican
bastion.
The campaigns spent moderately on television commercials during spring and
summer, with each spending about $1.5 million before Labor Day. In September,
both sides increased their advertising as polls showed the race tightening.
Now, both sides are saturating the airwaves with ads, with each spending
about $250,000 a week in the state.
BY THE NUMBERS:
4 — Number of electoral votes, which can be split. Two go to the statewide
winner, one to the winner of each of Maine's two congressional districts.
96.4 — Percentage of white residents, highest in the nation.
57 million — Pounds of lobster hauled in Maine waters in 2002.
89 percent — Portion of Maine that is forested, nation's highest.
QUOTABLE:
_ "In my opinion, this is the most important election in my time. If we
continue in the direction we're headed now, we'll go on to great things. If we
head the other way, to the left, we're headed for disaster." — Bush supporter
Tom Aasbo, who operates a hunting camp in the northern town of Oxbow.
_ "To me, this is a big issue. It controls your life. It completely changes
your lifestyle, and it is a serious disease." — Diabetes sufferer Janet Jones,
who backs Kerry because of his support for stem cell research.
_ "I'm an independent voter and this has been a frustrating experience for
me. I'm obviously concerned about the environment and I'm concerned about where
the president is going. But I don't hear a lot about the Kerry campaign and what
they're going to do about it." — Pat White of York, CEO of the Maine
Lobstermen's Association.
___
NOTABLE:
The Bush family has owned an oceanside estate in Kennebunkport for a century.
Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-to-1 there, and Bush carried the seaside town
1,291 to 935 in 2000.
Maine allows voters to register on Election Day.
Independents are the largest voting bloc in Maine, and the state has a
well-earned independent streak. The state voted for Texan Ross Perot ahead of
George H.W. Bush in 1992.
___
WHAT TO WATCH ON ELECTION NIGHT:
Independent Ralph Nader and Green candidate David Cobb could draw enough
votes to sway a tight election. Democrats are suing in an effort to remove Nader
from the ballot. Keep an eye on Maine's conservative 2nd Congressional District.
If Bush wins the northern district, he would get one electoral vote even if
Kerry wins the state. The state's electoral votes have never been split in the
35 years since the current system was enacted.
___
IN MAINE FOUR YEARS AGO:
Gore beat Bush 49-44 percent even though Nader, on the ballot as the Green
party nominee, took 5.7 percent of the vote. Gore's margin was smaller in the
conservative 2nd District.
Gore had a slight advantage among independents, and big margins from women
and middle-aged voters. Those who voted for Ross Perot in 1996 went 2-to-1 for
Bush in 2000.
