Voters headed to the polls November 2 won’t be there just to decide the fates of John Kerry and George W. Bush. As the Washington Post‘s David S. Broder writes today, a variety of ballot issues are vying for support in 30 states. In Maine, where the two candidates are running neck and neck according to a recent poll by the Portland Press-Herald, a bear-baiting ban is also up for a vote.
For the sake of our readers who haven’t been following this debate, here’s a quick summary: Maine allows steel leg traps for bear hunting, as well as the use of bait (bears love doughnuts) and/or dogs. Because of the liberal rules, 15,000 hunters — many from out-of-state — flock to Maine each fall in search of a trophy black bear. Only about a quarter of them are successful. (Maine has about 23,000 bears.)
According to the results of a recent Press-Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram poll, more than half of those responding said they would reject the ban; 14 percent are undecided. The Humane Society of the United States has already spent $200,000 in Maine to lobby in support of the ban.
We here at Campaign Desk have been listening carefully as the candidates spell out their positions on the issues, but so far we haven’t heard either of them express their views on this subject. (It’s still early.)
One interesting footnote. As the Press Herald‘s Kevin Wack writes, it’s voter turnout that historically has decided the outcome in Maine. With just one exception since 1948, when voter turnout exceeds 65 percent the Democratic candidate wins.
Whether the bear-hunting referendum will bring voters out of the Maine woods and tip the results in November remains unknown. We here at Campaign Desk are relieved, however, that no dogged member of the media has already designated these undecideds as the nation’s newest group of vital swing voters — the Bad News Bears?
–Susan Q. Stranahan
Susan Q. Stranahan wrote for CJR.