Maine acts as a trendsetter for Democratic Party

By Deirdre Fulton

WASHINGTON – Despite dismal results in the 2002 elections, Democrats still feel they have at least one reason to smile - the state of Maine.

Maine is a "bright spot…really setting the trend for where the future of the Democratic Party needs to be going," said Barbara Raths, chairwoman of the Maine Democratic Party, at the Democratic National Committee's conference last weekend.

Because the state had a relatively successful 2002 election cycle, Maine plays an important and "relevant" role in developing these strategies, Raths said in an interview at the Hyatt Regency Hotel where party representatives from across the nation met to discuss electoral strategies for 2004.

In 2002, she pointed out, Democratic Rep. Thomas Allen was reelected, Democrat Michael Michaud was voted into an empty seat, and the state voted Democrat John Baldacci into the governor's seat - the first time a Democrat has held the position in 16 years. The Democrats failed to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who defeated her Democratic challenger Chellie Pingree, a former Maine state senator.

Grassroots activism was a primary factor in Maine's success, Raths said.

To revitalize the party and politics, Raths said she advocates a "living platform" that she hopes will encourage grassroots leadership in every community. The living platform will engage Democrats across the state in community service projects tied to the issues of the Democratic platform.

"We're not just going to say we care about seniors and access to prescription drugs," she said. "You're going to see our Democrats in your senior centers; you're going to see our Democrats cleaning up our beaches; you're going to see our Democrats reading to kids in our schools."

In order to imitate Maine's success and beat President Bush, Raths advised candidates in 2004 to develop a similar local focus.

"We're urging the national party to get back to the grassroots…You can't win elections in Maine without being a good grassroots activist, " she said. She described the Maine political scene as a "retail model," where citizens are accustomed to candidates "coming by, door-to-door, talking about the issues and listening to their concerns."

In 2004, instead of a holding a state primary, Maine will return to a traditional caucus system, where candidates will go to towns all over the state to generate support. Out of these town meetings will come delegates who will report to the state convention in May to decide on a presidential preference. At town caucuses, Raths said, candidates will have direct conversations with citizens about of issues like health care, jobs and tight state budgets. "The issues people in Maine are concerned about are the Democratic issues," she said.

Though Raths met over the weekend with several presidential candidates-Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, and former Vermont governor Howard Dean--among other important political figures, she said the most exciting part of her time at the conference wasn't rubbing elbows with presidential hopefuls.

The most exciting conversations she had were with other state party leaders, she said, where they could establish connections regarding local issues and concerns. In those conversations, she said, a larger sense of community was established. "It's not just Maine, it's not just you…We're in this together."

Published in The Kennebec Journal and The Morning Sentinel, in Maine.