Aroostook County GOP caucus
tighter race between Cruz, Trump
Texas Senator Ted Cruz garnered almost half of the vote in Maine’s Republican presidential caucus, helping him gain momentum as a constitutional conservative and alternative to the leading anti-establishment candidate.
Across the state last Saturday, Cruz won 45.9 percent of the votes and will get 12 of Maine’s 23 national GOP delegates. Donald Trump, the self-funded real estate mogul currently leading in the race, took home 32.6 percent of the statewide vote and will get nine delegates. Ohio Gov. John Kasich won 12.2 percent and will get two delegates, while Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s 8 percent of votes missed the 10 percent threshold for delegates.
In Aroostook County, the race between Cruz and Trump was closer. Cruz, a lawyer and former Texas solicitor general, won 39 percent of the votes among 665 Aroostook County Republicans at three different caucus locations. Trump won the support of 37 percent.
“This election is about three things: jobs, liberty and security,” said Mark Strelka, a welder from Fort Fairfield.
Strelka said he was drawn to Cruz’s economic ideas such as his pledge to seek a flat 10 percent income tax and streamline business regulations, as well as his tough immigration and military stances. “Ted Cruz will not compromise away our religious liberty or any of our bill of rights,” Strelka said.
In Presque Isle, of thr 334 Republicans who voted, Trump won the most, with 36 percent, followed by Cruz at 29 percent, Kasich 17 percent and Rubio 14 percent.
Among Trump supporters was Mason Carson, an electrician from Presque Isle who said Trump is helping grow the Republican party and bring fresh ideas. “There’s no other way we we’re going to take a general election,” Carson said.
Trump’s proposed fence along the border with Mexico “will slow the amount of heroin coming into the country,” Carson said. Carson also cited Trump’s background in the entertainment and real estate industries and his health care reform plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.
Also speaking at the caucus was Mary Ayers, who is supporting Kasich and took the opportunity to raise concerns about the political infighting and civility.
“The tone of the primary debate has gone ahead and made a really bad impression,” said Ayers. Kasich has been respectful in the debates, worked as a well-regarded governor known for compromise and helped author the balanced budget bill of the late 1990s while in Congress, Ayers said.
“I hope you vote Kasich, so we can allow reason and careful thought to go ahead.”
In Fort Kent, the precinct for northern Aroostook County, 83 Republicans turned up and gave Cruz and Trump a rough tie. Each won about 38 percent, with Trump earning one more vote (32), followed by Rubio at 12 percent and Kasich at 10 percent.
In Houlton, the southern Aroostook precinct, 248 Republicans showed up and gave Cruz 45 percent of their vote. Trump garnered 37.5 percent and the rest each less than 10 percent.
