Kate Knox

UPDATED 4:45 PM with comments from Rep. Jeremy Fischer

With presidential candidates John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani dropping out so close to the Maine caucuses, supporters are looking to other candidates.

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud endorsed Edwards in October. Spokeswoman Monica Castellanos said he will back another candidate, she’s just not sure who or when.

New Page officials announced today that they are shutting down the #11 paper machine at the Rumford mill, and with it goes about 60 jobs.

Today’s news has people talking about trade policy, as they make their picks for a presidential candidate. Many union workers favor John Edwards.

New Page closed paper machines in Maine, Wisconsin and Ohio. Most of the 660 job cuts were in Wisconsin.

Chuck Rocha, national political director for USW, said he expects Edwards to make a statement on the mill closings in Nevada tonight.

Edwards’ schedule only stretches through the South Carolina caucuses, and Rocha said he does not know if he will visit any of the mill sites.

SOMERSWORTH, N.H. –On the surface canvassing would appear to be a simple process. Walk up to a house, bang on the door, suck up whatever response you get, repeat.

But in New Hampshire it’s a science. Campaigns spend hours mulling over voter lists, creating maps, drawing diagrams, analyzing data. All to make sure the right doors are knocked on.

And the people tolerate it without much fanfare.

Saturday morning I found myself in Dover N.H., in a van with two state representatives, a Portland school board member and a lobbyist. I’m following this group of Mainers as they volunteer for John Edwards.

Shalom Odokara, a prominent womens rights activist in Maine, represented the Obama campaignA couple of presidential hopefuls have stopped in Maine, but face it -- we’re not a priority state for the candidates.

We’re definitely not an ideal location for a debate anytime soon.

Thursday night, though, the Kennebec County Democrats hosted a surrogate debate at Augusta City Hall, gathering local campaign workers and volunteers to speak on their behalf, all who consider themselves “avid supporters”.

In the end, the county group asked for donations. The campaign collecting the most could keep the money. The rest would go to the Kennebec County Democrats. John Edwards’ campaign took home $147 ($135 from one person.) The Democrats got $75.

Four surrogates came, though representatives from all the Democratic campaigns were invited.