The ‘right person’

Lewiston native Dominique Casavant introduced Howard Dean to Lewiston voters at the city’s Democratic caucus last Sunday with more familiarity than most.

Casavant and his wife lived in Vermont where they got to know Dean during his tenure as governor.

Casavant, who taught physics at St. Michael’s College in Burlington, was appointed by Dean to serve on that state’s Nuclear Advisory Panel and was a member of the Vermont Legislature, as was his wife, Lucille.

Now retired and back in Maine, living in Auburn, Casavant put in a plug for the presidential aspirant from Vermont.

“I know him,” he said. “I think he’s the right person for the job.”

Kucinich sits

Democratic Caucus-goers seated at tables in Lewiston High School cafeteria jumped to their feet when presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich walked into the room.

He was late for his scheduled pre-caucus remarks and convenor Pat Lemaire had since delved into party business.

As Kucinich swept through the excited crowd, shaking hands and chatting with voters, Lemaire struggled for crowd control, hoping to keep caucus business on track.

“Please sit down,” she said into the microphone.

With that, people found their seats, including a sheepish-looking Kucinich.

The loudest Kerry cheers

When presidential candidate John Kerry came to Maine three days before the Feb. 8 Maine caucus, it was easy to know what the crowd liked: promises of health care for all, halting the disappearing jobs.

Among the loudest cheers were when:

• Gov. John Baldacci surprised the audience by phoning in his endorsement for Kerry for president.

Kerry said he was not only thankful for the governor’s backing but for the support “of this extended Baldacci family, Bob, Lisa and everybody.”

• Kerry praised Mainers for having the good sense to root for the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.

• Kerry predicted President Bush’s future: “Like father, like son. One term, you’re done.”

• Kerry promised that if he’s elected, “never will young Americans in uniform ever be held hostage to America’s dependence on oil from the Middle East.”

A fired-up Rowe

Maine’s Attorney General Steven Rowe normally has a reserved demeanor. He doesn’t get too worked up in public, just sticks to the facts.

But Rowe showed another side when he introduced John Kerry to the Portland crowd on Feb. 5.

“This is the most important presidential election in my lifetime, and I mean that,” Rowe said.

He complained about the direction the country has been led during the last three years. “We don’t want to go there” during the next four. “We need to reverse course immediately. We need a new skipper at the helm,” he said, his voice rising.

“We need someone who has courage, experience and a plan to benefit the working families of this country. We need John Kerry!” Rowe yelled.

– By Staff Writers Bonnie Washuk and Christopher Williams