Mitt Romney’s oldest son Tagg will visit Duke’s Barber Shop in Augusta Friday as part of a two-day campaign swing through Maine.

He’s also scheduled to attend the Kennebec County Republican Caucus on Saturday at Farrington School.

State Sen. Peter Mills, R-Cornville, who signed up as a Rudy Giuliani supporter, said the former New York mayor ran the only campaign he could, but the odds were against him from the start.

They aren’t old enough to vote, but state law now allows 17-year-olds to participate in political caucuses if they will turn 18 by the November election.

A few years ago, House Speaker Glenn Cummings, D-Portland, tried to get the two-thirds support necessary to give 17-year-olds the right to vote. That effort failed, but his fallback position was to allow them to caucus — and vote in the June primary — as long as they have a birthday before the general election.

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. today in the Statehouse Hall of Flags.

Paul has a strong core of supporters in Maine who have been organizing their efforts for months. He’ll be here in time to gin up support before the Republican caucuses begin on Friday.

Locally, most Republicans will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at Farrington School in Augusta.

Republicans from almost every municipality in Kennebec County will gather at Farrington School in Augusta Feb. 2 for their presidential preference caucus.

The county caucus starts at 10 a.m. and will be followed by individual city/town caucuses.

Republicans statewide will be the first Mainers to jump into the nationwide caucus and primary season, holding meetings on Feb. 1, 2, and 3.

Maine Democrats and some Green Independents will follow on Feb. 10.

The caucuses give candidates for all offices the chance to talk about themselves, get signatures if they need them, and get the party revved up for the June primary and November election.

In the last few days, the candidates on both sides of the 1st Congressional District race have been cranking out the press releases in hopes of getting a little ink or air time.

With the June primary five months away, they are all working to shore up support.

Here’s a sampler of what they’ve been saying:

With several GOP presidential hopefuls trying to compare themselves to Ronald Reagan, he’s been back in the news lately.

Maine Republicans will honor him in a public way on Feb. 6.

Mary Adams, who has led a couple of tax revolts in Maine, is organizing Ronald Reagan Day on the anniversary of his birthday.

She’s promising to organize “an uplifting and enjoyable press conference” to honor the nation’s 40th president with sentiments, memories, quotes and jelly beans.

Gov. John Baldacci signed a proclamation earlier this month to officially make Feb. 6 Ronald Reagan Day.

Former Gov. Angus King and other board members of Unity08 said in a letter on their Web site that their effort to find a new way to choose a president has stalled, if not failed.

King is a founder of the group that hoped to put a serious third party candidate on the November ballot. An independent who served as governor from 1994-2002, King talked about Unity08 on several YouTube videos.

“This in an old fashioned, sort of patriotic, idealistic, movement to take the country back,” he said.

But a lengthy letter that pops up when you go to Unity08.com says the effort has “fallen short” because they don’t have enough money or members to get a candidate on the ballot in all 50 states.

They had also planned to host an online political convention during which the Unity Party ticket would be named.

“This past year has taught us that it’s tough to rally millions to a process as opposed to a candidate or an issue,” the letter states. “Stirring people and moving them to action about a process change — replacing the quirky primary system that tends to drive candidates to the extremes with something more inclusive and sensible — has proven to be a lot harder than we expected.”

Former state Senator Phil Harriman of Yarmouth will serve as chairman of the Charlie Summers for Congress campaign.

Summers is seeking the Republican nomination for the 1st Congressional District seat.

Harriman, a partner at the insurance and investment firm Lebel & Harriman LLP, has been active in recent years with his support of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

He also co-hosts a radio show on WGAN, a job he used to shared with Democrat Sen. Ethan Strimling, until Strimling announced his run for Congress. Harriman now shares the airwaves with former gubernatorial candidate Barbara Merrill, an independent.

As campaign chairman, Harriman will be running the campaign with the help of Ruth Summers, who is filling in for her husband while he remains on military duty in Iraq.

It looks as though Summers and Dean Scontras of Eliot will be the only two vying for the Republican nomination in June.

Dr. Stephen Meister, the Winthrop pediatrician who jumped in to the 1st Congressional District Democratic field in late October, said this week that the rumors of his demise are greatly exaggerated.

Rumor had it that he may be reconsidering his Congressional dreams in lieu of the state Senate.

That’s not true, he said.

“I said some time ago that if I didn’t have money or support, I would consider that,” he said.

But, with a commercial on cable, some money and strategic use of the Internet, he’s planning to make a go of it for the June primary. Despite the long odds against heavyweights Chellie Pingree, Ethan Strimling, and Mark Lawrence, not to mention Adam Cote and Mike Brennan, Meister said he’s going to compete.

“Chellie Pingree’s got a zillion dollars,” he said. “She’s going to make commercials.”

He said Strimling doesn’t have “a zillion dollars” but has surged in online donations since hiring Rick Redmond — formerly of the Maine Democratic Party — for online work.

And recent news reports have revealed that Cote is getting some help from actress Glenn Close, who is listed as a host on one of his fund-raising invitations.

So where does that leave a physician from Winthrop?

He’s going to focus his money on more affordable cable commercials and in places like Facebook, an online gathering place.

“We’re going to have to do it a different way,” he said.

Rita Moran, head of the Kennebec County Democratic Committee, sent out a list of local times and places for Democrats to caucus on Feb. 10.

Here’s what she sent:

Voters registered in the Republican or Green parties wishing to participate in the caucus must change their party affiliation by January 26 at their place of voter registration. Unregistered or unenrolled (independent) voters can register at their local caucus location the day of the event.

Absentee Ballots may be obtained by contacting the Maine Democratic Party at 622-6233 or www.mainedems.org. Individuals or family members can request ballots; they are then mailed out within a day of the request. Completed ballots must be returned to the state party office at 16 Winthrop St. in Augusta no later than February 6.

Below is the Kennebec County caucus schedule. For a list of other places, go to the party Web site at www.mainedems.org.

Caucus Schedule
Albion: 2:00 (note: voter registration at that time), Besse Bldg., 22 Main St. (the Albion Town Office Building, in the Big Room on the main floor.)
Augusta: 4:00, New Cony H.S., 60 Pierce Dr.
Belgrade: 2:30, Center for All Seasons.
Benton: 1:30, Town Office.
Chelsea: 1:00, Town Office.
China: 1:00, Town Office.
Clinton: 1:00, Town Office Banquet Hall.
Farmingdale: 1:30, Town Office.
Fayette: 5:00, Starling Hall.
Gardiner: 1:00, City Hall.
Hallowell: 1:00, Hall-Dale Elementary School, 6 Garden Lane.
Litchfield: 3:00, Town Office.
Manchester: 2:00, Elementary School.
Monmouth: 2:00, Town Office.
Mt. Vernon: 2:00, Mt. Vernon Community Center.
Oakland: 1:00, Fire Station.
Pittston: 2:00, Town Office.
Randolph: 1:00, Town Office.
Readfield: 4:00, Town Office.
Rome: 5:00, Rome Community Center.
Sidney: 3:00, Sidney Town Office.
Vassalboro: 2:00, Town Office Conference Room.
Vienna: 3:30, Community Center.
West Gardiner: 1:00, Town Office.
Waterville: doors open 2:00, agenda begins 2:45, voting at 3:30; High School.
Wayne: 2:00, Elementary School.
Windsor: 1:30, Town Office.
Winslow: 2:00, Town Office.
Winthrop: 4:00, Town Office Multipurpose Room.

Local Mike Huckabee supporters are getting together tonight (Tuesday) to get organized for the presidential campaign.

The central Maine kickoff meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. at the Ground Round on Community Drive, near the civic center. The volunteers want to meet each other and plan strategy for the upcoming Republican caucuses on Feb. 1, 2, and 3.

After winning Iowa, the former Arkansas governor finished third in New Hampshire. Time will tell how he’ll do today in Michigan and Saturday in South Carolina, a key race for the Southern Republican.

If you want to check out the local supporters online, go to:
mikehuckabee.meetup.com/318

Ken Lindell, who’s heading up efforts for Ron Paul’s presidential campaign in Maine, wants to let Democrats know that Tuesday (Jan. 15) is the last day they can change their party affiliation if they want to participate in the Republican caucuses.

The caucuses are set for Feb. 1, 2, and 3.

Lindell, a former Republican state lawmaker from Frankfort, said he doesn’t think “a huge number of Democrats” will make the switch, but he wanted to let people know about the deadline.

“Frankly, all we’re trying to do is encourage people who support Dr. Paul and are registered as Democrats to come back to the Republican Party,” he said.

Lindell said he thinks Paul is a viable candidate.

“I think he’s got a great chance given the totally open nature of the Republican contest,” he said.

Steve Abbott, chief of staff to Republican Sen. Susan Collins, said Friday he’s decided against a run for the 1st Congressional District seat.

Back in September, Abbott said he was considering his options and would make his decision public in January. He said Friday it’s not the right time.

“I wasn’t ready to make the commitment this cycle,” he said, adding that he hasn’t ruled out a future run.

Abbott would have given the Republicans three choices heading into the June primary, and he would have brought a wealth of Washington experience to the table. Many in the party consider him a rising star, but his bid for public office will apparently have to wait.

The 1st District seat is open because Democratic U.S. Rep. Tom Allen is challenging Collins for her Senate seat.

On the Republican side, Dean Scontras of Eliot and Charlie Summers of Scarborough are running for the nomination.

On the other side, Democrats have amassed a rather large number of candidates:

From Portland: Adam Cote, Michael Brennan, Ethan Strimling

From North Haven: Chellie Pingree

From Winthrop: Dr. Steve Meister

From South Berwick: Mark Lawrence

And independent Peter Throumoulos of Old Orchard Beach has announced his intention to run.

Stateline.org has an interesting story on governors making their picks in the presidential race.

The story talks about what chief executives hope to gain by backing certain candidates, and lists who’s lined up with whom.

Last month, Gov. John Baldacci announced he’s on board with Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Check out the full story here

Back in 1997, House Speaker Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, would sometimes take her time recognizing Rep. Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Portland.

When you’re a mom with a microphone, you can get away with these kinds of things.

Now the mother-daughter duo is hoping to repeat their joint service in the Senate.

When former Senate Minority Leader Paul Davis, R-Sangerville, left office in 2006 due to term limits, it didn’t seem likely he’d return to the Statehouse.

He said he looked forward to fishing and hunting. He’s retired, and seemed tired of the grind of politics. While serving as Senate Minority Leader, Democrats tried to lampoon Davis for constantly saying “no” by depicting him as a flannel shirt wearing country bumpkin in an Internet ad.

Yet it seems Davis is hoping to make a comeback, this time in the House of Representatives.

As it gets closer to Maine’s presidential preference caucuses — Republicans are set for Feb. 1, 2, 3, and Democrats Feb. 10 — campaigns are announcing their local supporters.

Here’s who’s backing former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

State Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, is leading the Maine team.

Randy Bumps, Northeast regional political director for the Republican National Committee, said this week that despite all the hype over the Iowa caucuses — with networks giving live updates from Des Moines — Maine is important in the presidential race.

Why?

For 20 legislators, the new session that began this week marks their fourth consecutive term, which means they cannot run again — at least not for the same seat.

But don’t worry.

Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, isn’t hanging it up. He said he plans a House run later this year. Martin, first elected in 1965, has missed only one term since then. He was House Speaker for 18 years, and switched to the Senate in 2001.

The Mitt Romney campaign announced its Maine Steering Committee on Wednesday, just one month before Maine Republicans will caucus on the presidential candidates.

Sen. Doug Smith, R-Dover-Foxcroft, is among the seven member committee, and said he likes Romney because he is a fiscal conservative.

“I think he’s got a good vision for Maine and the country,” he said. “He is very articulate. He gives a very good appearance. That is a formula for a winner.”