(I'm not sure if lone diarists are allowed to create an open thread but here goes...)
Howdy Folks! Fred in Portland, Maine here! I am not able to make it to the caucus this year (as I did in 2004) so I caucused by absentee ballot. I just got off the phone with a friend attending the caucus in Wells where she says it is jammed packed and they are all out standing in the snow waiting to get in. Now THAT is Democracy in action! (She even said the parking lot was so full the organizers said they couldn't begin until people moved their cars.)
Did you caucus in Maine? How did it go? What happened? How was the turnout? Did you brave the snow too? Was it a wicked good time?
I want to hear from you! Ayuh!
UPDATED: A list of Maine's caucus locations can be found on the Maine Democratic Party's website. Also, many caucuses started around one with a few around the state to begin later this afternoon and not end until 7 and 8PM. Stay tuned!
UPDATE 2: UPDATE HARDER Other info can be found at Politicker ME, Turn Maine Blue, WMTW-TV, and the Portland Press Herald. (Which reports Obama has picked up the Western Maine town of Fairfield 55 to 54.)
UPDATE WITH A VENGEANCE: My friend from Wells reports the southern Maine town of Wells went:
Clinton: 155
Obama: 127
LIVE FREE OR UPDATE HARD: From Portland:Thousands are lining up at Portland High.
UPDATE EPISODE ONE: THE PHANTOM MENACE: via Turn Maine Blue the town of Turner in central Maine:
Clinton: 62
Obama: 55
Edwards: 1
Undecided: 2
(Although, really, how do you go to a vote and vote for undecided? I mean its one thing to go to the polls undecided, but isn't the whole point of a vote is to BE DECIDED? There's my rant for the day...)
UPDATE EPISODE TWO: ATTACK OF THE KOSSACKS: The good folks over at Turn Maine Blue have an excellent stream of results coming in. (Keep up the great work guys, I salute ye!)
UPDATE EPISODE THREE: REVENGE OF THE SITH: CNN just reported with 11% in Obama 50% to Clinton's 48%.
UPDATE EPISODE FOUR: A NEW UPDATE: the Portland Press Herald reports:
Democratic caucus-goers in Portland are waiting in long lines at Portland High School while a team of 30 registrars works to herd them into the event.
Organizers have assured the hundreds still waiting outside the high school that anyone in line by 4 p.m. will be admitted to the caucus. Voters waited in lines that stretched from the school’s entrance on Cumberland Avenue to Congress Street as recently as 2:30 p.m.