|
First off, I think they said CE gets 37 delegates: I remember it being an odd number because the emcee guy said something about splitting evenly.
We arrived around 12:50, and already there was a line across the parking lot to get in. The checkin table was right next to the outer door to the high school cafeteria. The doors opened at 12:30 and were set to close at 1:30. Apparently the planners really underestimated the potential crowd, because there were only two people checking folks in. At that point we were all waiting outside (it was still sunny then), except for people who needed to register to vote for the first time or switch party affiliation. Around 1:15 someone came out and announced that everyone would be checked in and the doors would NOT be closed before everyone was in. A few minutes later, the queue moved to the inside of the high school because people were complaining about the cold. There was talk of moving to the auditorium, but whomever had the keys had left already, so we were stuck where we were. Obama stickers were everywhere, and Cynthia Dill (our state rep) came out occasionally to talk to people and carrying a Clinton sign.
I think I was finally checked in around 1:45ish, almost an hour after arriving, after a third person was added to the sign up table. To move us through quickly, we were asked our names and checked off the rolls. By that point they had stopped looking at IDs. It was all a big clusterfuck, and tempers were getting short. However, since it had started snowing again, we were all glad to be inside. I'd say only about half the folks there had chairs, if that. Everyone else was standing, and frankly I think we were above the fire marshal's capacity for the room. Speeches began at 2 or so, after all the local politicos were introduced. First the state candidates and their representatives, and then Tom Allen's representative. Finally were the speeches for the presidential candidates. Dill spoke for Clinton and did a fairly good job except for how damn loud she was speaking (we had snagged seats in the front row). When she pointed out that HRC was the first woman on the board of Wal-Mart, there was a lot of mumbling in a negative way. She got a good round of applause when it was over. Next was the speaker for Obama. Can't remember his name -- he wasn't a politician but had been working on Obama's campaign for over a year. He did a good job as well.
Then we split up for a preliminary vote, with Obama supporters going out into the hall and Clinton's caucus staying in the room. Because the crowds were so large, there was no way additional speeches or discussion could happen. So, we were told to write our preference on the white cards we had been given when we signed in, which were turned in to volunteers as we filed into the room. A few people meandered out because no one was sure what was to happen next, but then we were informed that we needed to stay in the room until the votes were verified, which didn't take long at all. The preliminary numbers were given (as KevinJ said: It was 500+ for Obama and 200+ for Clinton, with another 100 absentee ballots). We didn't stick around for the nomination and voting for of delegates, mainly because we won't be living in Maine by then.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
