Maine had elections in September until 1957

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○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└:
I guess some people thought Landon had a chance because he won ME, but ME was fairly Republican. Pierce won it in 1852, but once the Republicans starting running candidates, it was reliably theirs with the only exception being Wilson 1912 until Johnson won it after they switched to November voting.

In 1936, Landon won it 55.49-41.52, not much different from how it had voted in 1932. In November, Landon only won VT.


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http://www.workingwaterfront.com/column.asp?storyID=20041114

Bono:
As Maine goes, so goes Vermont.

jimrtex:
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This is not the source of the phrase.  Historically, from the first Continental Congress, the states have been listed in geographical order along the Atlantic Coast, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA.  For example the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are signed in this order (following the signature of their respective presiding officers, John Hancock and George Washington).

Vermont was inserted after Connecticut, but the other states were placed at the end of the list in the order they joined the Union.   When Maine joined the Union, it was placed first.

In particular, this order was used for counting the electoral votes in joint session of Congress.  It was also followed by the Democrat convention.

In essence, the phrase meant, the roll call of the states has begun, with Maine taking the lead as by tradition.

Maine was decidedly not a bellwether, unless Rhode Island was a bellwether in 1964, and Idaho was a bellwether in 1972.

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States traditionally held held their legislative sessions in the winter, which was the best time for a population in agriculture to head to the state capital for a short session of a month or so.  Many legislatures met late in the year, which permitted annual budgets to be approved for a calendar year.  The elections would be held a short time before.  September or October is a decidedly bad time for an election when you're trying to get in the harvest.

The above implies that state elections and federal elections were on any sort of common schedule.

Presidential elections were the first to come to some sort of common schedule.  This was because it was decided that the electoral votes should be counted before the start of the presidential term on March 4th, and the (outgoing) House of Representatives would have time to elect a president if necessary.  It was considered important that the sole national election be held contemporaneously.

Beginning in 1792, electors cast their vote on the first Wednesday in December.   States had 34 days before then on which to choose their electors.  The electoral votes would be counted on the first Wednesday in February.

By 1840 the states that chose their electors by popular election (all but South Carolina) held their election between October 30 and November 12.

In 1845, Congress fixed the day to choose electors to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (same as the present).   In 1887, the casting date for electoral votes was moved to January, and then in 1934, in conjunction with the 20th Amendment, was moved back to its current date 41 days after the electors are chosen.

Representatives were chosen at all times of the year.  Congress had a bizzarre schedule.  The term began on March 4 of the odd year, but the first session usually began in December, and might run into late spring.  The second session would then begin in December of the even year and run up to the end of the term on March 4.   In presidential inaugural years, the Senate would hold a short special session after the 4th to consider presidential nominations.

So the outgoing House would hold its 2nd session after the election of the new president (and perhaps after their own re-election or defeat), they would finish their term the day before the new president began his, and then go home, not to return for another 9 months.

Some states held their congressional elections after the beginning of the congressional term in the odd year, gambling that there would be no special session.  Others held them in the late winter/early spring a month or two before the start of the term (this was more prevalent in the South) Others held them late in the even year.

It wasn't until 1872 that northern hegemonists set the congressional election day to be the same as the presidential election day.

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This might refer to the recognition of Texas, which occured in the waning days of Jackson's administration after the election of Van Buren had already occured.  Incidentally, or perhaps not, Maine was the 4th strongest Van Buren state in 1836, at 60%.  Maine would have had a state election in 1838.   

How about, Mainers were disatisfied with Van Buren's failure to settle the northeastern boundary.  Maine troops faced New Brunswick troops in the Aroostook War.  Democratic Governor John Fairfield of Maine warned Van Buren that "should you go against us upon this occasion — or not espouse our cause with warmth and earnestness and with a true American feeling, God only knows what the result will be politically."  Van Buren wanted a negotiated settlement, and thus failed to espouse the Maine cause with warmth and earnestness.

While Harrison did defeat Van Buren handily in 1840, his victory in Maine was only 0.4% (about 400 votes).

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The New York Times was a radical Republican paper.  It was probably Krugman's great-grandfather - who at least had a presentable beard.

Garfield won in the closest popular vote ever (0.02% margin).

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Probably didn't have anthing to do with Roosevelt (Maine was Teddy's 5th highest percentage, 3rd in a state where Taft was actually on the ballot).

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