Political fever is building across the region as voters prepare for Tuesday's Massachusetts presidential primary and nominating contests in two legislative districts.
With Massachusetts among more than 20 states holding Super Tuesday contests, area backers of the remaining presidential hopefuls are hitting the streets and working the phones in support of their candidates.
Similar efforts are being mounted on behalf of the contestants in two special election primaries. Democratic and Republican contests are on tap in the Eighth Essex House district, which includes Marblehead, Swampscott, and three Lynn precincits, while a Democratic primary is on the ballot in the 32d Middlesex House district, which includes Melrose and part of Wakefield. The special election is March 4.
Also Tuesday, voters will elect members of the Democratic and Republican state committees, and members of the two party's town and ward committees.
"It's Massachusetts. It's a presidential primary. There isn't going to be anything but excitement," said Democratic State Committee member Arthur Powell of Beverly. "But when you factor in the level of involvement by our governor, some of our congressmen, both of our senators, the drama hits very close to home."
The energy level among Democrats and Republicans may be higher than usual this year due to the stakes involved - because neither of the nomination contests has been conclusively settled, and because Massachusetts moved up the date of its primary, many view the state as being "in play" this year in a way it is often not.
Local election officials say they expect voter turnout to be solid to heavy, fueled by excitement over the presidential primary fights, and in the case of the two House districts, interest in the primary contests.
"It's very very busy," Newburyport City Clerk Richard Jones said. "We have given out over 300 absentee ballots already. We have a lot of new registrations. There's excitement in the air. We expect a big turnout."
Wakefield Town Clerk Mary K. Galvin predicts turnout in her town will be heavy, or about 40 percent. In the 2004 primary, 22 percent went to the polls.
"We have a double primary in four precincts," she said, referring to the presidential and special election primaries. "I think the combined interest will bring out" a larger number of voters.
Malden City Clerk Karen Anderson expects said the city's turnout "may break records for a presidential primary," though not for other city elections.
"It's a close race, with interesting candidates," she said.
In Beverly, City Clerk Frances Macdonald also anticipates a "heavier than normal" turnout, while in Gloucester, Assistant City Clerk Jeremy Gillis expects turnout to be "a little above average," though "It's not going to be a blowout."
Reflecting the divided allegiances within the Democratic and Republican ranks nationally, local party members are split among the presidential aspirants.
Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and Republicans Mitt Romney and John McCain all have support from area elected officials and party leaders. Democrat John Edwards and Republican Rudolph Giuliani, until they suspended their campaigns last week, also had some prominent endorsements. There is also area support for Republicans Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul.
With Giuliani endorsing McCain, one question last week was whether his supporters might do the same.
"The dust hasn't settled yet, but I would imagine that a lot of the Giuliani supporters in Massachusetts will probably follow the mayor's lead and end up supporting John McCain. I personally am inclined to do that," said Senate Minority Leader Richard R. Tisei of Wakefield, who was one of Giuliani's three statewide coordinators. "I think he has a lot of a attractive personal qualities and leadership qualities, and I think he has run a really good campaign and he has a great personal story," he said of McCain.
Powell, who is Clinton's campaign coordinator in the 2d Essex senatorial district, said supporters of the New York senator are engaging in a "flurry of activity" on behalf of her, including phone banking, door-to-door canvassing, and sign-holding.
"I think she is in a very good position. Massachusetts has always been good to the Clintons," he said, adding that responses he has received in calling people on behalf of Clinton have been "very favorable."
Obama forces are also hard at work, according to Heidi Cope of Beverly, who is coordinating campaign activity in that city. "It's very grass-roots," she said of the effort, which includes phone banking and sign holding. She thinks his chances in the state are good.
"Before this week, I wasn't sure what his support was in Massachusetts. "But the Kennedy endorsement is pretty big here," she said of US Senator Edward M. Kennedy's decision to back Obama. "It seems like the momentum is really building in Massachusetts."
The local Romney campaign is also in full gear, said Republican State Committee member Eamon T. Fennessy of Beverly, a volunteer for the former governor. He said the effort involves distributing yard signs, making phone calls, holding signs, and sending e-mails.
Fennessy said he is confident Romney will prevail in the primary "because of his turnaround of the $3 billion deficit as governor, his experience as an executive, as the governor, as a businessman, and as someone who knows how to get things done."
Fresh from McCain's victory over Romney in the Florida primary, local supporters of the Arizona senator are mounting an effort for him, including making phone calls, holding signs, and passing out lawn signs, said Kevin P. Scott of Wakefield, a McCain volunteer and an unsuccessful 2006 candidate for US Senate.
Even though Romney enjoys a home field advantage in the state, Scott believes McCain can win here.
"He's just extremely well liked and respected," Scott said. "He won Massachusetts by more than a 2-1 margin in 2000, and we want to replay that."
