With all the hype on NH, will presidential candidates forget about Maine? Party leaders say it’s too soon to tell.

Six people gathered in an empty classroom at the University of Southern Maine Thursday night over brownies and ginger ale.

After meeting briefly to talk about the script, they separated into corners of the room and started making phone calls. Today they were inviting people to a women’s summit for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, and were also compiling a list of women willing to go publically on the record as supporting Clinton.

This was the hub of Clinton’s supporters in Portland. Except none of the numbers they dialed started in 207. They were calling women in New Hampshire.

The group, which has about 25 people involved to some extent, has focused all of their efforts thus far on helping Clinton win next door. After the New Hampshire primary Jan. 8, they anticipate moving their efforts in state.

Sam Spencer, delegate to the Democratic National Convention, said it is hard to tell how much of an impact Maine will have on the presidential election. In February, Maine could see a mad rush of Democratic presidential candidates in five days, he said, or the state could be overlooked entirely.

For Democrats, Maine used to be the 12th state to hold a primary or caucus. With the rush by other states to be first, Maine is now 32nd, to be held on Feb. 10.

It all depends on what happens in the early states, Spencer said. One candidate could clinch it early on, or there could be a three-way tie, which would mean the later states will still play a role.

In the meantime, volunteers for the candidates are focusing their efforts on New Hampshire.

Spencer said there’s a lot of pressure on the delegates by the campaigns to endorse, but neither he nor any of the other nine Democratic super delegates have chosen a candidate.

“I’ve gotten a call from Hillary Clinton’s office every day,” Spencer said.

The Republican caucus date in Maine, however, has been moved up. It was held on May 15 in 2004, and will be held on Feb. 2 this year.

Mark Ellis, chairman of the Maine Republican Party and delegate to the Republican National Convention, also said it is hard to predict what kind of impact Maine will have on the election.

He said they too are under pressure to endorse. Peter Cianchette, national chairman for the state’s party, has endorsed Mitt Romney and Karen Raye, national committeewoman, has endorsed Rudy Giuliani.

Ellis said for now he will remain neutral.

The uncertainty over Maine’s impact hasn’t stopped people from getting involved, however. Volunteer efforts are underway for all of the major candidates. In addition, second-tier candidates Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich have grassroots support networks built up.

Back in the USM classroom, the supporters all had their own reasons for choosing Hillary Clinton. Most of them had sought out the opportunity to volunteer.

For South Portland resident Penny Snow, it was a personal experience her parents had. In 1995 they were working in the coat room for an event in Boston which she attended. As she was leaving, she walked up to Snow’s parents, and said, “How are you today.”

“That really showed me the character she has that doesn’t come across in the media,” Snow said.

For Portland resident Heath Ouellette, Clinton is just “the one who has always impressed me.”

Ouellette said he works in the childcare industry, so he said he supports her because of her work on children’s’ rights and health care.

The health care issue also reeled in Carol Schiller of Portland.

“She was out there before anyone else,” Schiller said. “She’s waited a long time for this.”

Schiller said Clinton also gets women’s issues.

“Women need a real leader,” Schiller said. “She’s such a fair minded person and down to earth. People can relate to her, and she can relate to women.”

PolitickerME is actively gathering information on other events, and will post a more comprehensive list at a later date. Have any tips? Send them to jessica.alaimo@politickerme.com.