Can a  partisan guy attend a  partisan event and report out a nonpartisan synopsis? 

We’ll see. 

Saturday morning found me driving north as I left for the U.S. Senator Nominating Convention of the Democratic Party in Bangor. I’ve been to numerous conventions, a few presidential swearing in celebrations, and this had some promise to be less excruciating, expensive, and time-consuming.  

After not much more than two weeks since Graham Platner flew too close to the sun and fell to earth the Democrats had hurriedly put together a open and legal process and it appeared to be working. 

I wasn’t sure if I’d even get in packing a letter from PenBayPilot.com Editor Lynda Clancy but the gatekeepers were suitably impressed and waved me in. Straight into a media corral, actually. They had minders everywhere controlling doors to limit press access. So I had to sneak past them. 

The press was here in force. I could not count the national press and reporters and camerawomen clogging the aisles. Chris Janzen of MS NOW was rocking a purple suit. She kept leaping up onto a raiser with impressive physicality. I was occupying a chair and guarding it jealously.

Usually the mainstream media treats guys like me badly but now all the press gets treated badly, so we got along fine. No one threw an elbow at me, at least when we were packed into a few photo ops.

Counties were grouped and cheerful Waldo was in front of me in my little media jail yard. Knox was over there in far right of the floor. Not that they are far right. There was all kinds of loud enthusiasm. They had signs for various occasions.

Susan Collins name come up often with lots of booing and the funny and mean signs came out. “No more concerns!”  Troy Jackson’s name came up often to loud cheers and the occasional “TROY! TROY! TROY!” It took little to get these folks going and they did so, repeatedly. 

Conventions can often be about the swag. T-Shirts and signs were everywhere. I could have grabbed one but I’d have been tussling with true believers. I settled for the free coffee. 

After a couple introduction speeches we heard the two candidates, Troy Jackson and at last second Shauna Pelletier ( Shauna Pelletier’s brother said, “she has more balls than anyone!”)rounding out an all Aroostook County slate, including Senator Collins. 

Pelletier gave a subdued speech introducing herself and promising to be player in the future. Troy gave a short barnburner amid themes you might as well get used to.  Speeches out of the way, we were off and voting. 

Tick. Tock. Tick tock. It gave me time to assess the crowd; much younger than your average political party county meeting. We had a nice pledge of allegiance and national anthem. Lots of exuberant people. Whiter than mayo on Wonder bread. 

I did not detect any bitterness over Platner’s exit. The feeling was  was much more positive, good humored, and focused on the future race. This crowd was not looking in the rear view mirror. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

The convention was motioned in at 9:15 a.m. and as the noon hour struck they announced to roaring voices and rousing applaud that Troy Jackson had won 566 to 4, demonstrating the power of his fast-paced organizing ability securing slates in every county that carried him to victory. To be a candidate that is. 

Eventual victory will be TBD.

All conventions and elections should go this fast and painlessly. We were out of there by 12:15 p.m., headed back down the coast on a beautiful sunny July afternoon. A whirlwind of campaigning that has shaken Maine for months turned a page to the man event. Collins vs. Jackson. The contest in the County! One hundred and one days to go and they are off and running. 

How did the nominating process work out? It’s all over but the shouting. We’ll see you at the polls in November. 

Michael Hurley lives in Belfast