Stateline: Maine not a battleground state

By Jessica Alaimo, PolitickerME.com Reporter

A 50-state strategy will be impossible for the Presidential nominee Barack Obama and the Democratic Party, Stephen Fehr of Stateline.org reported today. Instead, the presidential race will come down to 20 states.

Maine isn’t on the list.

When former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean took over as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, he said the party would compete in every state – even those that are traditionally red.

Maine is traditionally considered to be a blue state. Obama’s campaign has staff on the ground. McCain’s campaign does not.

Charles Cook, who publishes the Cook Political Report, told Stateline:

“It makes all the sense in the world for Howard Dean to pursue a 50 state strategy, because his job is to build a national party with the long haul in mind. For a presidential campaign, a 50 state strategy is as much a cliche as a strategy. It's basically saying, ‘We're going to pay some attention to all 50 states, we aren't going to ignore any state.’ Obviously every state doesn't get equal resources but it does give his supporters and donors a sense of involvement regardless of whether they live in a battleground state.”

JESSICA ALAIMO is a PolitickerME.com Reporter and can be reached via email at jessica.alaimo@politickerme.com.

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Comments

Make no mistake about it –

posted by marcos

Make no mistake about it – the presidential race is competitive in Maine. John McCain is a good fit for Maine. His maverick style, his record of reform and challenging the status quo, and his energy and economic policies are right for Maine and are what we need in Washington right now. There is no question Maine is in play.

Mark J. Ellis

State Chairman

Maine Republican Party

09/15/08 5:10 pm

No question except...

posted by Link

"There is no question Maine is in play."

Um.... Mark? Are you saying every single poll and political pundit in the country is wrong?

Mark Ellis < Bag of hammers

09/15/08 8:03 pm

Ellis

posted by Jonathan Albrecht

Wacked!
I've been calling people since April. Maine is not in play. McCain hardly gets mentioned. As we see this morning his economic policy (Bush 44) is a disaster. His pretention that he now favors regulation when he has opposed it his whole career is an election year conversion that will be forgotten by Nov 5th. As for his being a maverick, every position he has taken in opposition to the Republican Elite he has abandoned in this campaign - no off-shore drilling, opposition to the disasterous Bush tax cuts, honest campaigning, the straight talk express to name just a few.
The maverick of 2000 is dead. Bush 44 is a live and well.

09/16/08 11:30 am

McCain's energy policy is right for Maine?

posted by Jonathan Albrecht

Every night I listen to people who will face the choice this winter of heating their homes, taking prescription drugs, or eating.
John McCain's energy policy does not even mention the price of energy as a problem and it in no way addresses solutions. On the other hand every democrat proposes some immediate solution to the price bubble.
John McCain's energy proposal only increases energy company profits while leaving Mainers to freeze this winter.

09/16/08 11:36 am

Maine is not a 100% winner take-all state.

posted by Jason D.

I have spoken with Maine Victory 08 for McCain and they see 1 electoral vote from the 2nd district in play. That is what they mean when they say Maine is up for grabs or "in play."

09/16/08 10:05 pm