On the eve of sweeping three states on Saturday, Barack Obama won today’s caucuses in Maine, a contest that some thought Hillary Clinton might be able to win:
AUGUSTA, Maine — Barack Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in Maine presidential caucuses Sunday, grabbing a majority of delegates as the state’s Democrats overlooked the snowy weather and turned out in heavy numbers for municipal gatherings.
Democrats in 420 Maine towns and cities were deciding how the state’s 24 delegates will be allotted at the party’s national convention in August. Despite the weather, turnout was “incredible,” party executive director Arden Manning said.
With 87 percent of the participating precincts reporting, Obama led in state delegates elected over Clinton, 1,837 to 1,277, with 17 uncommitted.
Obama won at least 13 of Maine’s delegates to the national convention, with three still left to award. Clinton won at least eight. In the overall race for the nomination, Clinton leads with 1,135, including separately chosen party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Obama has 1,106.
As that was unfolding the Clinton campaign announced a major shakeup in it’s staff:
Patti Solis Doyle, the campaign manager for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (N.Y.) presidential bid, has stepped down from that post and will be replaced by longtime Clinton operative Maggie Williams.
“This week Maggie will begin to assume the duties of campaign manager,” Solis Doyle said in a statement. “I will serve as a senior adviser to Hillary and the campaign and travel with Hillary from time to time on the road.”
The Clinton campaign was largely silent about the change at the top. But with losses to Barack Obama in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington state and Maine over the weekend and uphill climbs on Tuesday in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, one aide suggested new blood was needed.
“The next few weeks are going to be brutal, never mind that the team is already completely exhausted,” said the source.
If you think you’re exhausted now, just wait until Wednesday morning.
February 10th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Wasn’t Maggie Williams in charge of “bimbo eruptions” during the 1992 campaign? Great qualifications.