Maine Democratic Party

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008

CONTACT: REBECCA POLLARD, 772-4353 OR CELL: 233-7380

(PORTLAND, MAINE) - Maine turned a deeper shade of blue this week, with record high turnout and an unprecedented ground game resulting in gains for Democrats across the ticket-not to mention a lasting party infrastructure that is sure to bode well for Democrats for years to come.

"The Democratic operation that we built across Maine in the last year was not only historic in size and in the gains we saw for our candidates on Tuesday, but it will make this state stronger for our party for years to come," said Peter Chandler, campaign director for the Maine Democratic Coordinated Campaign.

Chandler has been widely credited as the architect behind the creation of the largest Democratic grassroots campaign team in Maine history. The party opened 34 offices statewide, including at least one office in every county of the state. The 52 paid staff recruited more than 6,000 volunteers over seven months to make phone calls, knock on doors, enter data-whatever was needed to elect Democrats from Barack Obama on down to local state legislative races.

Combined, the volunteers and staff made more than 2 million phone calls (in a state with only 1.3 million people); they knocked on more than 200,000 doors; and on Election Day alone, 3,600 volunteers from 74 locations statewide executed the most intense and sophisticated Get Out The Vote effort ever witnessed in Maine.

"We helped galvanize the intense desire among Maine people to get involved in the most important election of their lifetime. Our goal was to make democracy accessible for all people of Maine-no matter how rural or how traditionally Republican the town, we had an office nearby," Chandler said. "The sophisticated level of our campaign, coupled with the most dedicated group of young staff I've ever seen, helped bring change to Maine and the nation on Tuesday."

Chandler also said that the database of volunteers and donors, tracked inclinations of voters, and tactical campaign strategies never utilized in Maine prior to this year will leave a lasting impression on the party and will bode well for its success in future elections.

On Tuesday, Maine voters chose change for the state and nation by electing Barack Obama (with all four electoral votes) as President. They also chose Chellie Pingree to represent U.S. House District #1-the first Democratic woman from Maine ever elected to federal office. They re-elected Congressman Mike Michaud to represent Maine 2nd Congressional District. The Maine State Senate expanded its majority to 20-15 (unofficially). And the Maine State House gained six seats for a balance of 96 Democrats, 54 Republicans and 1 unenrolled member.

Chandler said that despite Congressman Tom Allen's loss in the U.S. Senate race, "He waged a positive, forceful call for change on the biggest issues affecting the people of Maine. Tom left nothing on the field, and the people of Maine have been lucky to have someone as courageous and principled as Tom serve them honorably for 12 years."

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