2008 Maine Democratic presidential caucuses explained

Election Name:2008 Maine Democratic presidential caucuses
Country:Maine
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2004 Maine Democratic presidential caucuses
Previous Year:2004
Next Election:2016 Maine Democratic presidential caucuses
Next Year:2016
Candidate1:Barack Obama
Colour1:800080
Home State1:Illinois
Popular Vote1:2,079
Percentage1:59.30%
Delegate Count1:15
Candidate2:Hillary Clinton
Colour2:D4AA00
Home State2:New York
Popular Vote2:1,397
Percentage2:39.85%
Delegate Count2:9
Map Size:300px
Outgoing Members:WA (caucus)
Elected Members:DA

The 2008 Maine Democratic presidential caucuses took place on February 10, 2008, and had 24 delegates at stake. The winner in each of Maine's two congressional districts received all of that district's total delegates, which totaled 16. Another eight delegates were awarded to the statewide winner, Barack Obama, at the Maine Democratic Party Statewide Convention on May 31, 2008. These 24 delegates represented Maine at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Another 10 unpledged delegates, known as superdelegates, also attended the convention and cast their votes as well.

Although Maine technically sent 24 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention, John Knutson, the superdelegate Chairman of the Maine Democratic Party, had pledged to support whoever won the majority of the vote, making the total number of pledged delegates effectively 25.[1]

Process

The Maine Democratic Caucus was a closed caucus open to all Democratic voters. New voters and nonpartisan voters could register as Democrats at the door, while members of other parties must have changed their party registration by January 26, 2008. In addition, absentee ballots were permitted for the disabled and those in the military who could not personally attend.

At the caucus, participants gathered in groups among presidential preference. Unlike most other caucuses, there was no 15-percent minimum threshold, as long as a candidate had enough votes to elect a whole delegate after rounding. Re-caucusing after the first preference groups was divided was permitted among all participants.[2] After dividing presidential delegates, voters were elected to be delegates to the Maine Democratic Party State Convention on May 31, 2008, pledged but not bound to their candidate. Only state delegates are reported by the party. At the state level, delegates were selected for the Democratic National Convention; these delegates were bound.[3]

Results

See also: Results of the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

Municipal Caucus Results

Caucus Date: February 10, 2008

National Pledged Delegates Determined: 0 (of 24)

2008 Maine Democratic Presidential Caucus Results
PartyCandidateVotes PercentageDelegates
DemocraticBarack Obama2,079 59.30%15
DemocraticHillary Clinton1,397 39.85%9
DemocraticUncommitted 27 0.77%0
DemocraticOthers 3 0.09%0
Totals3,506100.00%24
Voter turnout%

State Convention Results

Caucus Date: May 31, 2008National Pledged Delegates Determined: 24 (of 24)

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Franci X. . Quinn . Democratic caucuses pledge delegate shares to candidates . The Boston Globe . 2008-02-07 . 2008-02-11.
  2. http://www.mainedems.org/documents/CaucusTraining.pdf Microsoft PowerPoint - Caucus Training.pptx
  3. http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P08/ME-D.phtml Maine Democratic Delegation 2008