“Reggie” is part of a GOP effort to reach new voters, according to the party. When parked, the rig converts in 3 hours into a 24-foot sound stage complete with computers, Xbox games, plasma screen televisions and a live Web cam. The rig moved on this weekend to New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, N.H.

It is expected to play a pivotal role in RNC’s goal of registering 3 million new voters nationwide, 8,000 in Maine. Before November, the 18-wheeler will be showcased at sporting events, parades, festivals, and college campuses across America.

The campaign is appealing to “NASCAR dads,” or racing teams and fans, promoting President Bush’s leadership in fighting terrorism and growing the economy, said Kevin Madden of the Bush-Cheney campaign in Maine.

Driver Deke Henderson, a Republican sporting a Viagra T-shirt, said he and his wife, Christine, started in Washington state in March and have piloted the rig across the country, setting up in three or four cities a week.

In his 30 years as a truck driver, he said this was his most unusual job.

Maine unenrolled voters still lead

After a July 18 story about how many Maine Green voters are leaning to vote for Democrat John Kerry in November, national party spokeswoman Nancy Allen said there are more than 19,000 registered Greens in Maine, not 16,169 registered Greens in Maine as reported. The secretary of state’s Web page says there are 16,169 registered Greens, according to their 2002 election figures.

On Wednesday Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn said that according to the June 2004 primary election figures, there are 19,004 registered Greens in Maine. Flynn expects that the latest numbers for registered voters will be on the Web page within a week.

The latest figures from Flynn shows that once again the highest number of registered voters belong to independents, or “unenrolled” voters. There are 365,921 unenrolled in Maine.

The second-largest group belongs to Democrats, 297,831. Not far behind are Republicans, 274,727. The total number of registered voters in Maine are 957,485, according to the latest figures.

Hamel-Michaud to have debates

Republican congressional hopeful Brian Hamel threw down the gauntlet, actually 11 of them, challenging U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud to a slew of debates.

Hamel proposed that the 11 public forums – one in each 2nd Congressional District county – be held between Oct. 15 and Nov. 1, “which is the time that voters are most focused on election issues,” he wrote Thursday in letters to Michaud and Socialist Equality Party candidate Carl Cooley.

The Michaud campaign has agreed to only three, citing the congressman’s need to be in Washington often between now and Election Day to cast votes. “It is very difficult to schedule those things,” said Monica Castellanos, Michaud’s press secretary.

A public television debate at that organization’s Lewiston office is set for Oct. 15, with both major party candidates committed.

Castellanos said four debates were held two years ago – three television and one radio – between Michaud and Republican nominee Kevin Raye.

Ben Golnik, Hamel’s campaign manager, said he was surprised that Michaud would not be able to find time during weekends and recess to let every voter in the largest district east of the Mississippi River see a live debate.

“The people deserve more than one debate on TV in each of the media markets,” Golnik said.

Maine truth squad’ created

The Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign announced it has assembled a “Maine truth squad” to respond to Democrats referring to John Kerry’s record during the Democratic National Convention over the coming week.

“Senator Kerry will either have to make over his long Senate career or launch a strong defense of his title as the most liberal member of the Senate,” spokesman Kevin Madden said in a press release. The squad will be headed by Maine campaign Chairman Peter Cianchette, who will host daily press conference calls.

Republican press conferences and interviews will happen in Boston during the convention. The GOP also unveiled a new Web site, DemsExtremeMakeover.com.

– By Staff Writers Bonnie Washuk and Christopher Williams