The real caucus story

by Gina Hamilton
Coastal Journal staff

BATH - By now, everyone has heard the numbers ... during the Democratic caucuses on Sunday, Barack Obama walked away with 59% of the vote, to Hillary Clinton’s 40%.  But the real story wasn’t the 60-40 vote split, or the number of statewide delegates Obama received (15) compared to the number Clinton received (9), or even the potential crisis of confidence in the primary process that the superdelegates pose.

The real story is far more local, and therefore, more interesting.

The biggest story of the caucus was the vast number of people who came out to participate, even in the midst of one of the coldest, wettest, nastiest winter storms this season, sometimes reaching whiteout conditions.  A good number of the attendees spent at least some period of time waiting outdoors in that weather.  In one remarkable case, realizing, too late, that the space was going to be too small, the whole Phippsburg caucus moved from the town hall to the school across the street. But very few left for warmer climes, such as their living rooms.  Most stayed.

In Brunswick, there were 1,326 participants at the caucus, including absentees.  In 2004, which was also a record year, Brunswick had 514 participants.  In Bath, during the record 2004 caucus, 80 -100 people participated, on a fine February morning at which breakfast and hot coffee was served by the town committee.  This year, over 335 participated (Obama 249 - Clinton 117). No breakfast, either. 

The Bath caucus was held during the height of the snow and sleet storm that passed over the midcoast in the early evening.
Statewide, 44,673 Democrats came out to caucus this Sunday.  The weekend before, 5,431 Republicans met to caucus.  In the Republican caucuses, Mitt Romney won by 52%.

The local Democratic committees were floored, but gratified, by the record turnout.  “It was a great day,” Eloise Vitelli, who is chair of the Sagadahoc County Democrats, said of the local caucuses.  “The size of the turnout was really exciting.  Most of the voters were first-time caucus-goers, and many were young voters.”

The City Clerks stayed to register new voters at all locations.  “They deserve a vote of thanks,” said Vitelli.

Of course, with the size of the crowds, problems arose.  Voters were dropped from the Democratic rolls, and had to re-register.  There were not enough chairs, and barely enough standing room, for all the caucus-goers at the Bath City Hall when Bath voted at 6 p.m.  It was freezing outside, and hot and dry indoors. Lines were hours long to register to vote and to sign in at the caucus.

But then Democrats never claimed to be an “organized political party."  There is talk of moving to a primary or an ‘absentee’ caucus in future years to avoid the organization problems that were manifest at the caucuses this year.  But for now, the Democrats are riding the crest of a wave that is simply enormous.

The energy at the caucuses was palpable.  Even though voters waited in line for hours to hear three-minute speeches and take one, critical, vote, the excitement could be felt by everyone at City Hall.

If the tide in the Democratic Party continues to build, November will see Maine a very different state, politically, than it is today.