AUGUSTA, Maine—Maine Democrats were met by some old fashioned New England weather as they headed to municipal caucuses Sunday to declare whether they favor Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama as their party's presidential nominee.
The Maine preference voting came a day after Obama picked up ground on Clinton with wins in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington and the after he and Clinton made personal appeals to Maine audiences for their support.
Democrats from 420 Maine towns and cities were deciding how the state's 24 delegates will be allotted at the party's national convention in August.
Democrats had expected heavy participation at the caucuses, but up to 8 inches of snow were expected across much of the state with Arctic cold when many of the gatherings were scheduled. Even so, the Democrats started Sunday with more than 4,000 absentee ballots in hand.
Party Executive Director Arden Manning said the weather wouldn't hurt caucus turnout.
"We live in Maine, we deal with snow all time," Manning said. "I can't imagine snow's going to keep people at home and keep them from having their voices heard."
While Maine's national delegate total is small, the state's voters drew plenty of attention from Clinton and Obama as their campaigns drew tighter after Super Tuesday.
Thousands of people packed the Bangor Auditorium to hear Obama on Saturday and hundreds more who weren't allowed in were greeted by the candidate as he arrived. Earlier in the day, people were also stopped at the door as Clinton held a town hall-style gathering about 10 miles away in at the University of Maine at Orono. Clinton later stopped in Lewiston.
Her daughter Chelsea and husband Bill also visited the state while Obama supporter Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts came to two Maine cities to campaign in the days leading up to the vote.
Both campaigns hit Maine heavily with radio and TV advertising, and even Sunday voters' homes were being called with pre-taped messages in support of both candidates. On Sunday, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, were scheduled to visit Maine caucuses on Obama's behalf.
On Clinton's side, Maine Gov. John Baldacci, Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern and New York Rep. Gregory Meeks were to campaign.
The high level of excitement across the state contrasted with earlier expectations that the post-Super Tuesday timing of the caucuses would dampen voter interest.
A competitive GOP race a week earlier also helped to enliven interest in the Maine Republicans nonbinding caucuses, which were won by Mitt Romney.
