2008 Maine Republican presidential caucuses

The 2008 Maine Republican presidential caucuses were held on February 1, February 2, and February 3 at various locations throughout the state of Maine. The results were used to apportion 21 delegates for the state. The Maine Republican caucuses were the first caucuses in the 2008 election season in which Rudy Giuliani was out of the race.

2008 Maine Republican presidential caucuses
February 1, 2008 (2008-02-01)
 
Candidate Mitt Romney John McCain
Party Republican Republican
Home state Massachusetts Arizona
Delegate count 20 0
Popular vote 2,837 1,176
Percentage 51.7% 21.4%
 
Candidate Ron Paul Mike Huckabee
Party Republican Republican
Home state Texas Arkansas
Delegate count 1 0
Popular vote 1,002 318
Percentage 18.3% 5.8%
County Results
  Mitt Romney
  Ron Paul
  John McCain
Elections in Maine

Process

The Maine Republican caucus is a modified closed caucus. New voters and voters who have not declared a party may register as Republicans 30 minutes before the caucus begins. Otherwise, a voter must have been registered Republican 15 days before the caucus.[1] In addition, those who turn 18 by the general election are eligible to register at the caucus site.[2] The delegates chosen at the caucuses are actually non-binding; this means that they will not be bound to any specific candidate.[3][4]

Like most Republican Party caucuses, there are two components to the Maine caucuses. First, delegates are elected from the attendees. These delegates later represent the caucusgoers at the state convention in May. Candidates generally provide slates of delegates to voters who are interested in supporting them, and voters can ask prospective delegates whom they support for president. A total of 3,867 delegates were selected statewide in 2008.[5] Then, a straw poll, called a presidential preference ballot, is taken of the individuals in the room. The results of this secret ballot are transmitted to the media, who use it as a "snapshot" of the opinions of Maine Republicans. Although the media report the results of the ballot, and assign delegates appropriately, it is the state convention which determines who actually goes to the Republican National Convention. Even after the state convention, all delegates remain unbound to any candidate.[6]

In 2008, although some caucuses were held on February 3, this was the day of Super Bowl XLII and county parties were discouraged from holding caucuses for fear of low turnout. Only three caucuses were scheduled for that day.[7] Thus, the party released results statewide for the media on the evening of February 2.[8]

Campaign

Since Maine is adjacent to New Hampshire, Mainers have the benefit of traveling to New Hampshire to look at the candidates, and spillover coverage from the New Hampshire primary, traditionally the first primary election of the nominating process.[9] Some candidates traveled to Maine during the 2008 campaign on visits to New Hampshire. Rudy Giuliani visited the state in September, 2007. Many candidates mobilized supporters. Further visits to the state were expected to be few, given that the Maine caucuses were sandwiched between the prominent Florida primary and Super Tuesday.[10] However, Ron Paul visited the state in the end of January, five days before the caucuses.[11]

By the time of the caucus, Ron Paul was the only presidential candidate still in the race who had visited Maine to campaign, but Mitt Romney's oldest son, Tagg, campaigned for him there.[12]

Some residents have criticized the caucus system, complaining that it disenfranchises the elderly and military service-members and discourages turnout.[13]

Results

Maine 2008 Presidential Preference Survey Results:

100% of precincts reporting[14][15]
Candidate State Delegates Percentage Delegates
Mitt Romney2,83751.67%20
John McCain1,17621.42%0
Ron Paul1,00218.25%1
Mike Huckabee3185.79%0
Fred Thompson*80.15%0
Rudy Giuliani*30.05%0
Alan Keyes10.02%0
Uncommitted1362.48%0
Write-in90.16%0
Total5,491100%21

* Candidate dropped out of the race before the caucuses

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See also

References
  1. Maine Republican Party :: Text Archived 2008-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Maine caucuses near — switch parties now to vote for different party
  3. Quinn, Francis X. (January 27, 2008). "Maine Republicans prepare for Super weekend". The Boston Globe.
  4. The Campaign Spot on National Review Online Archived 2008-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "2006 Gubernatorial Summary - Revised.xls" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  6. "How Republicans Will Express Presidential Preference In Maine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  7. Maine Republican Party :: Text Archived 2008-02-06 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Parties push for big presidential caucus turnouts
  9. NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTES TODAY
    Mainers cross border for primary
  10. Political leaders confident state caucuses will matter | Portland Press Herald
  11. Paul Drums Up Maine Support In Advance Of Caucuses - Politics News Story - WMTW Portland Archived 2008-01-31 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Romney wins Maine GOP caucuses". USA Today. February 4, 2008. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  13. Caucuses not good substitute for primaries
  14. "RESULTS: Maine". Maine Republican Party. 2008-02-29. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
  15. Ellis, Mark J. "Caucus Tally Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
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