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mahatmakanejeeves

(61,342 posts)
Sat Oct 26, 2024, 05:41 AM Oct 26

This purple swath of Maine could determine control of Congress

NATIONAL
This purple swath of Maine could determine control of Congress
The 2nd District sports a Democratic House member but voted Republican in the 2020 presidential contest.

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{I’m all out.}


Susan Surabian, left, and Michelle Robbins canvass voters on the streets of Skowhegan, Maine, for the Harris campaign. (Photo by Joanna Slater/TWP)

By Joanna Slater
October 26, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

WILTON, Maine — Jon Bubier is the kind of voter who is turning next month’s election in this swath of Maine into a brawl unlike any other in New England.

A self-described conservative Republican, Bubier voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. Yet he also voted repeatedly to send a Democrat to Congress. “I like somebody who votes with their constituents, not their frickin’ party,” Bubier said.

As he sipped a beer in a low-ceilinged bar, Bubier, 62, said he was done with Trump. The former president has “acted like a fifth-grade bully,” Bubier said. “I can’t do it again.” This time, Vice President Kamala Harris has his vote.

How many voters feel the same way could have profound consequences in Maine — and well beyond.

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{I’m all out.}

By Joanna Slater
Joanna Slater is a national correspondent for The Washington Post focusing on the Northeast. Previously she served as the India bureau chief based in New Delhi. Prior to joining The Post, she was a foreign correspondent for the Globe & Mail and a reporter at the Wall Street Journal. Her postings include assignments in Mumbai, Hong Kong and Berlin. follow on X @jslaternyc
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This purple swath of Maine could determine control of Congress (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Oct 26 OP
Wish me luck Easterncedar Oct 26 #1
Good luck! GPV Oct 26 #2
Thank you! Easterncedar Oct 26 #7
Good luck and thank you for doing the canvassing. You'll be fine. Will you be with another canvasser? Bumbles Oct 26 #3
Two of us opted to go together. Easterncedar Oct 26 #8
Thanks for the good wishes! Easterncedar Oct 26 #9
Let us know how it went. Even one vote for Kamala will be a win. Bumbles Oct 26 #10
That's my district. Fierce sign wars going on. Harris and local repub signs were out first, but Trump has gained GPV Oct 26 #4
I think you are right. We ran into some polite hostility Easterncedar Oct 26 #6
Memories Squeaky41 Oct 26 #5

Easterncedar

(3,617 posts)
1. Wish me luck
Sat Oct 26, 2024, 06:38 AM
Oct 26

I am canvassing in central Maine this morning. Never done this before, and I will admit to being a bit nervous.

Bumbles

(256 posts)
3. Good luck and thank you for doing the canvassing. You'll be fine. Will you be with another canvasser?
Sat Oct 26, 2024, 06:47 AM
Oct 26

I wrote postcards this year - a bit safer, maybe, and at 82 a bit easier on my back. I first canvassed for Mcgovern in 1972. It was fun.

Easterncedar

(3,617 posts)
8. Two of us opted to go together.
Sat Oct 26, 2024, 12:12 PM
Oct 26

The young people arranging the volunteer effort seemed good and earnest, and the very small group of mostly older folks volunteering were great, but the general organization seemed a bit haphazard. The canvassing software was interesting and speedy, but the rural area we were sent to was just too sparsely populated to make it feel like a good use of resources.

GPV

(73,072 posts)
4. That's my district. Fierce sign wars going on. Harris and local repub signs were out first, but Trump has gained
Sat Oct 26, 2024, 06:50 AM
Oct 26

recently. However, I think in places like Ellsworth, the independently wealthy conservative John Linnehan has backed a massive sweep of signs and huge banners, so I really am trying to look at home signage. Then, too, there maybe a lot of others who worry about putting out anything, so I don't really feel that signage is a good indicator of the district at large, but rather the level of enthusiasm of the most dedicated voters.

Easterncedar

(3,617 posts)
6. I think you are right. We ran into some polite hostility
Sat Oct 26, 2024, 11:45 AM
Oct 26

But there were a couple of very enthusiastic blues, fun to talk with. Mostly folks weren’t home or weren’t answering. None on our list had signs.

It was an experience.

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