AUGUSTA, Maine — Now that the Republican delegates are back in Maine from their national party gathering in Florida, the state’s Democrats are packing up and heading to Charlotte, N.C., for their convention that will re-nominate President Barack Obama and seek to highlight what’s at stake for voters in the presidential election.
Maine is sending 37 voting delegates and three nonvoting party leaders to the convention set to start Monday, which stands to turn into a cozier and less confrontational affair than it was for their GOP counterparts in Tampa last week.
While Obama is the undisputed nominee unifying the Democrats, Maine Republican delegates became embroiled in a bitter credentials battle that divided supporters of Mitt Romney and challenger Ron Paul, who has a sizable contingent of supporters in Maine.
Democrats say their convention will highlight the differences between the parties and set into motion the fall campaign.
“The convention will reinvigorate the party base for the fall election,” said Barry Hobbins of Saco, a veteran of six national conventions, including one as party chair. “It’s really the beginning of the Democratic team coming back to the playing field.”
Hobbins, who is Senate floor leader, joins other state lawmakers including Sens. Philip Bartlett II of Gorham and Stanley Gerzofsky of Brunswick, and House Democratic Leader Rep. Emily Cain of Orono, as delegates. Also on the list are former legislators and party officials as delegates.
More than 35,000 media members, delegates and guests are expected during the convention. Obama is to accept the nomination Thursday.
Mary Erin Casale, executive director of the Maine Democratic Party, who has made early visits to Charlotte in preparation for the event, said it will draw the highest number of delegates ever nationally. According to the convention website, nearly 6,000 delegates, up from 4,419 delegates in 2008, will take part in this year’s convention.
As far as Maine’s major candidates are concerned, however, their time will be better spent campaigning at home. U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud and Senate candidate Cynthia Dill will all remain in Maine.
Whats the platform gonna be? Divide and conquer? If thats it Barry may as well start packin now
I think the divide part has already happened. Conquer happens on the second term.
Divide and conquer is a Republican Offensive move, Need Proof?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbExyurUWvQ
When the other side fights back, project your plan onto them, and blame them!
Divide Conquer Project and Obfuscate.
It’s the Republican Way!
Looks like Wisc. is doing better than alot of the country as of late. A political move to save the PEOPLES money may seem a harsh but hey payback is a well you know. These were the people who tried to have him recalled Gee how did that work out Oh never mind he probably stole that election again
Since they have nothing of substance & no record to stand on, it’ll be the usual diversion, blame shifting & inflammatory class warfare rhetoric we’ve heard ad nauseam.
Hobbin’s 6th convention. Any wonder there’s no ” HOPE AND CHANGE”. ‘Nuff said!
Sounds like Charlotte will need a good bath after next week and maybe a flea treatment.
This convention will be about Barrack Obama explaining all of his previous campaign lies and why he did not do anything that he said except that he did change the USA. He divided us like we have never been divided. We are not the United States under Barrack Obama we are the divided States and now that needs to change. Don’t waste your time on this man dems, vote for real change, vote for Romney.
Maine democrats support Angus King for Senate. Now that’s party unity!
If the Democrats had a brain, they’d start over from scratch and not nominate the sitting President. Since Joe Biden is the brain of the Democratic party, their chances of success in a world that has real competition – is slim at best. This election will be telling – not just on Obama’s failures – but how much his fervent believers obsessively believe his lies of “Hope & Change” and are willing to follow him over a virtual cliff of fiscal waste, poor leadership, and incompetence – all documented for the American voter to see over the past four years. When Bush left office, gas was $1.89. The market was still competitive but now domestic drilling on current sites is heavily restricted and the Feds refuse to allow the exploration of coal, shale, or natural gas in many areas – not to mention the Keystone pipeline. People whine about “Big Oil” but affordable oil is what drives a working economy. Other nations realize this – but America is at the mercy of environmentalists with a death grip on our economy. Environmentalist aren’t concerned over real threats to the environment but imagined threats in their attempt to preserve everything from human development. Restricting development everywhere is strangling our economy. Prices will likely hover right around $4 up till the election because Obama refuses to explore REAL energy that we need. Bankrupted solar energy companies or the Chevy Volt financed by taxpayers do not count – other then as failures for inept liberal policies.
It’s 2012, let’s put the American people first for a change. The people that get up and work every day – not the one’s who refuse to work or who are living off of their Daddy’s trust fund. Not the public sector or private sector unions who demand enormous wages and gets furious when the papermill market is outsourced to Canada. Nor do I feel pity for the automobile assembler in Detroit making $80 an hour when his competitor at Toyota makes a much better quality product for much less labor – on American soil without labor dues.