AUGUSTA – Maine Democrats are readying for a three-day state convention that they hope will display diversity and demonstrate election year determination without developing into a full-scale donnybrook.

Little in the way of tangible prizes is at stake. But that doesn’t mean festivities, which begin Friday, don’t hold potential for fireworks at times.

Organizers are looking for a big turnout, based on delegate registrations numbering around 2,300.

Presumptive presidential nominee John Kerry won’t formally claim the party mantle until late July in Boston, but he is already campaigning flat-out in his bid for the White House. Despite Kerry’s sewn-up status as party standard-bearer and his February victory in Maine’s Democratic caucuses, however, backers of a couple of also-ran hopefuls are still expected to mount a showing in Portland this weekend.

Supporters of vanquished rivals Howard Dean, who may call in to his enthusiasts, and Dennis Kucinich, who is expected to attend, have hopes of underscoring their campaign season accomplishments.

“We’re well organized,” Lu Bauer of Standish, one of Kucinich’s Maine coordinators, said in a statement Thursday. “Our delegates are anxious to go. We anticipate a full delegation, we have many activities planned, and we will be asking both Kerry delegates and delegates for those candidates who are no longer actively in the race to sign statements of support for Rep. Kucinich.”

Like allies of the Ohio congressman, Dean advocates remain tight, according to Maine Democratic Party Chairwoman Dorothy Melanson.

“They want to have a presence and he will have a presence,” Melanson said.

According to party tabulations, Kerry carried the Maine caucuses on Feb. 8 with more than 44 percent of the vote.

Dean, the former governor of Vermont, came in second with 27.7 percent and Kucinich was third at 15.75 percent.

Democrats will send 36 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Kerry, whose candidacy will be highlighted by former Maine House of Representatives Speaker Michael Saxl and keynote speaker Ann Lewis of the Democratic National Committee’s Women’s Vote Center, met with independent Ralph Nader on Wednesday and their discussion touched on whether Nader would siphon votes from the Massachusetts senator.

That’s a question of high interest to Democrats in Maine, where four years ago Nader took 6.7 percent of the vote as Democrat Al Gore bested Bush by 49.1 percent to 44 percent.

The roughly five-point spread between the Democrat and Republican in 2000 has put Maine on lists of so-called battleground states this time around.

In addition to echoes of last winter’s primary campaign contest, this weekend’s convention is also expected to feature spirited debate over a lengthy Democratic Party platform draft. Melanson said Thursday about three dozen proposed amendments were pending. One contentious item could be a plank addressing Israel and Palestine.

“We’re packing up,” Melanson said Thursday morning as convention organizers prepared a caravan for the weekend move from state headquarters in Augusta to the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Neither of Maine’s U.S. senators are on the ballot this year but twin Democratic incumbents in the U.S. House, 1st District Rep. Tom Allen and 2nd District Rep. Michael Michaud, are seeking re-election.

Both are scheduled to speak before assembled Democrats on Saturday afternoon, along with Gov. John Baldacci. Various committee elections and housekeeping chores won’t be wrapped until Sunday.

Last weekend, Maine Republicans held their state convention, which including an address by White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, at the Augusta Civic Center.

Republicans will send 21 delegates to the national GOP convention in New York City.



On the Net:

Maine Democratic Party: http://www.mainedems.org/

AP-ES-05-20-04 1251EDT



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