Maine

Maine is a state of the United States. It is probably named after the French province of Maine. Another possibility for the name "Maine" is that the people living on islands along the coast of Maine used to speak of going to the mainland as "going over to the Main." Its U.S. postal abbreviation is ME. Four U.S. Navy ships were named USS Maine in honor of the state. The state is generally chilly, though warm summers can bring an average of 15 days above 80 degrees F for the month of July.

Law and government

The capital of Maine is Augusta and its governor is John Baldacci (Democrat). Its two U.S. senators are Susan Collins (Republican) and Olympia Snowe (Republican).

Related Topics:
Capital - Augusta - John Baldacci - Susan Collins - Olympia Snowe

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Maine's politics are notable for several reasons, and are dramatic. In the 1930s, it was one of very few states which remained dominated by the Republican Party. In the 1936 presidential election, Franklin D. Roosevelt received the Electoral Votes of every state other than Maine and Vermont.

Related Topics:
1930s - Republican Party - 1936 presidential election - Franklin D. Roosevelt - Vermont

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Beginning in the 1960s, Maine began to lean toward the Democrats. In 1968, Hubert Humphrey became the first Democrat in half a century to carry Maine (sans for the 1964 landslide victory of Lyndon Johnson), thanks to the presence of his running mate, Maine Senator Edmund Muskie. Maine has since become a left-leaning swing state, but has voted Democratic in four straight elections, casting its votes for Bill Clinton twice, Al Gore in 2000, and John Kerry (with 53.6% of the vote) in 2004. Republican strength is greatest in Washington and Piscataquis counties.

Related Topics:
1960s - Democrats - 1968 - Hubert Humphrey - 1964 - Lyndon Johnson - Edmund Muskie - Swing state - Bill Clinton - Al Gore - 2000 - John Kerry - 2004

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Maine voters tend to accept independent and third-party candidates more frequently than most states. Maine has had two independent Governors recently (James B. Longley from 1975 to 1979 and Angus King from 1995 to 2003). The Reform Party of Ross Perot achieved a great deal of success in Maine in the 1992 and 1996 Presidential elections: in 1992 Perot came in second in Maine to Bill Clinton, despite the longtime presence of the Bush family summer home in Kennebunkport, and in 1996, Maine was again Perot's best state.

Related Topics:
James B. Longley - 1975 - 1979 - Angus King - 1995 - 2003 - Reform Party - Ross Perot - 1992 - 1996 - 1992 - Kennebunkport - 1996

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The Green Party candidate won nine percent of the vote in the 2002 gubernatorial election, more than in any election for a statewide office for that party. The Green Party also elected John Eder to the office of State Representative in Maine, its highest elected official nationwide. Maine politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike, are noted for having more moderate views than many in their party.

Related Topics:
Green Party - 2002 - John Eder

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Since 1969, two of Maine's four electoral votes are awarded based on the winner of the statewide election. The other two go to the highest vote-winner in each of the state's two congressional districts.

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Famous politicians from Maine include James Blaine, Edmund Muskie, Margaret Chase Smith, William Cohen, George J. Mitchell, Olympia Snowe, and Hannibal Hamlin.

Related Topics:
James Blaine - Edmund Muskie - Margaret Chase Smith - William Cohen - George J. Mitchell - Olympia Snowe - Hannibal Hamlin

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