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Race For The Presidency
Winning the 2008 Nomination
By Rhodes Cook |
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One way to look at the huge Super Tuesday vote on Feb. 5 is that it is sandwiched between the Republican and Democratic caucuses in Maine. the state's Republicans will launch their caucus process Feb. 1; Maine Democrats will follow Feb. 10. the Republican event lasts through Feb. 3, but the state GOP is encouraging municipalities to meet by Feb. 2 so the results of a nonbinding presidential preference vote of caucus attendees can be announced to the media that day.
Voting in the Republican caucuses is limited to registered Republicans. Maine Democrats allow independents (or "unenrolled" in Maine parlance) and those not registered to vote to sign up as Democrats at their local caucus. As of November 2006, there were 993,748 registered voters in Maine—309,525 Democrats, 279,641 Republicans, and 404,582 independents and third-party voters.
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DEMOCRATS |
REPUBLICANS |
| THE CAUCUS CALENDAR |
| Municipal Caucuses |
Feb. 10 |
Feb. 1-3 |
| State Convention |
May 30-June 1 |
May 2-3 |
| THE DELEGATES |
| Number (% of national total) |
34 (0.8%) |
21 (0.9%) |
| Distribution: |
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By district |
16 (9 in 1st District, 7 in 2nd) |
6 (3 per district) |
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At-Large |
5 |
12 |
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Pledged PEOs |
3 |
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RNC members |
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3 |
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Superdelegates |
10 |
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| Method of Allocation |
Proportional—15% of vote needed to win a share of statewide or district delegates. |
Delegates run as individuals (or on slates) and are not formally allocated to reflect the caucus vote. |
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