AUGUSTA—More than 410 Democrats gathered Sunday, February 10th, for one of the most historic caucuses in Augusta’s history.  Veteran Democrats joined newly registered Democrats to participate and cast their vote for their favorite Democratic Presidential nominee.

With 55 delegates available to send to the state convention, United States Senator Barack Obama, D-IL, won the Augusta Caucus by a vote of 29 to 26 over U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, D-NY.  Residents from all over Augusta broke up into one of four voting wards to engage in democracy in its simplest form.  Clinton and Obama supporters worked hard to sway undecided voters their way until it became clear who had the most votes.

Augusta proved to be the place to be Sunday with a number of high-profile visits from guests like Governor John Baldacci.  Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch made a special visit to Maine’s Capital City to urge voters to support Senator Obama.  Augusta resident Dale McCormick and Kennebec County Judge of Probate Jim Mitchell spoke on behalf of Senator Clinton.

Also present at the Caucus were Senate Majority Leader Libby Mitchell, Representative Kim Silsby, and Representative Patsy Crockett.  Former Maine Senate President Mark Lawrence, who is running for Congress in Maine’s first Congressional District, also spoke to the crowd.

In addition to participating in the presidential caucus process, Augusta Democrats also elected new officers for the Municipal Democratic Committee.  Here are the following results:

Augusta Democratic City Chairman:              Michael Johnson

Augusta Democratic City Vice chairman:        James Cook

Augusta Democratic City Secretary:              Greg Olson

Augusta Democratic City Treasurer:              Donna Doore