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| Chick for this weeks sales flyer |
“People
are mad,” said Peter Dunn of Raymond. “I’m 78 years old and I’ve never been to
a caucus before.”
Others
were also attending caucuses for the first time. Velma Bowes from Gray is 79
years old and she’d never been. Craig Doering from Windham was nominated as a
delegate. “My impression is that there is a huge turnout,” he said. The Windham
voters filled a classroom on Saturday to hear local legislators discuss needs
for the Republican Party both locally and on the state level.
One
woman arrived at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and there were already a lot of people
waiting. “This is a fantastic turnout,” she added.
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| Ryan Crowell holds his daughter Lucy at the democratic caucus in Raymond on Sunday. They are a Hillary family. |
“It’s
bringing us all out. And we’re Trump all the way,” said Louise Dunn from
Raymond.
Representative
Patrick Corey, from District 24, was at the caucus to announce his run for
reelection. He recalls that in 2012, there was a Presidential preference poll
where people put their vote into a container. “We didn’t have this opportunity
in 2012,” he said. Corey had this to say about working with other elected
officials. “It’s not about you. It’s about your community. Whoever gets
elected, that delegation has to work together.”
The
caucuses gave voters not only a chance to vote for their favorite candidate,
but to hear other opinions on why they were voting for certain people. It was
the first time it was tried this way.
In
2012, 5,585 voters cast their vote for a republican presidential candidate.
This year 18,650 voted. Cruz won the regional vote and the State of Maine with
45.84 percent of the votes. Trump was second with 32.55 percent of the votes.
Speakers
from all four republican candidates attempted to entice the votes to choose
their candidates and representatives from each candidate were on hand to answer
questions and hand out bumper stickers and signs.
“This
is a slice of American. Kids, seniors, adults all came out. It’s personalized,”
said Rep. Mike McClellan. “Isn’t that why most of us are here? People are
angry, frustrated. He’s telling them what they want to hear,” said Keith Minton
from Raymond who is campaigning for Cruz.
Close
to 800 people voted in Windham.
On
Sunday, the democrats met in their individual towns to support Bernie Sanders
or Hillary Clinton.
“This
is the first step to vote for electing a democrat for President,” said Janis
Cummings, who opened the caucus in Raymond. In 2012, seven people came to the
democratic caucus in Raymond, this year there were 100.
Jess
Fay, who is running for the District 66 seat, and State Senator Bill Diamond
both spoke to encourage the crowd. “The turnout has been unbelievable. That’s
all good news for us,” said Diamond. In
Portland, the caucus had to be moved outside due to the large numbers and many
people stood in line for hours.
Unlike
the republican caucus, the democrats asked their voters to stand on one side of
the gym or the other at the Raymond Elementary School, depending on who they
wanted to vote for. The undecided voters stood in the middle until they made
their decision.
“They
[Clinton and Sanders] need each other,” said Bill Hayman. “The most important
thing is getting out the vote.”
One
man who was planning to vote for Sanders said, “Hillary is still playing the
same game the way it’s always been played.”
Another
pointed out that “Bernie is more likable than Obama was at this point in the
race.”
The
final tally in Raymond was Sanders 87 to Clinton 47.
“I’m
psyched,” said Jen Bruder. “I didn’t realize the importance of it until I found
someone I’m passionate about. [Sanders] doesn’t owe anybody any favors, except
for us.”
Sanders
won the democratic vote in Maine. The process is now under evaluation in
Augusta to see if caucuses are the best way to hold primaries in Maine.
