Paul brings new faces to Maine caucuses

Networking among the who’s-who atmosphere of “The Maine Event” in Portland, where Republicans gathered after the caucus, were two high school students.

Carrie Paul, 18, and Haley Gallant, 17, both of Manchester, had never been involved in politics before, and had a stereotypical vision of the Republican Party as being a bunch of pro-war President Bush supporters.

Then a friend told them about Ron Paul. They became just two of the many Maine residents who had never been engaged in politics before finding Paul, and two of the many who spoke on the Texas congressman’s behalf Saturday.

The two didn’t stop at voting for Paul, they decided to engage themselves in the party. Gallant was elected chairwoman of the Manchester state delegates, and both volunteered for the Republican City Committee.

Gallant said seeing all the candidates at the Kennebec County caucus inspired her – now she’d like to run for office someday.

“I want my own bumper stickers,” she said.

Ron Paul people came out en mass at the Androscoggin County caucus, and were noticeably present at the Sagadahoc and Lincoln county caucuses.

In Lewiston, they demanded equal time after they felt Paul staffer Stavros Mendros was cut short. After the other speakers, Mendros was allowed to come back up and continue answering questions.

Mendros talked about Paul having the ability to select the best judges for the bench and the need to restore the values of the constitution.

At both the Sagadahoc and Lincoln county caucuses, residents came forward to speak on behalf of Paul.

Gary Harvey, a Woolwich resident, works at the Bath shipyard and spoke at the West Bath caucus. To him, it’s the economic issues that are important.

Donald Folkers of New Castle spoke in Damariscotta. He said he likes Paul because of his support for a smaller government.

“Right now we have government by consensus, that’s not my style,” he said.

Ken Lindell, state coordinator for the Paul campaign, said despite Paul’s third-place finish in the Maine straw poll, he expects a heavy turnout for him among delegates at the caucuses.

He agrees that Paul brought in a lot of new voters, and lit a fire under the Mitt Romney and John McCain campaigns.

“Our campaign may have inspired the others to wake up and turn out,” he said.