Democratic energy crisis

Now that Democrats and Republicans have had their state conventions, voters in search of a home this election season cannot help but notice this: While things are dark and uninviting on Donkey Street, the elephant party has the lights on, the music playing and something cooking.

The GOP drew more than 1,400 to its Augusta meet last weekend. They packed the Civic Center, they demonstrated, chanted, sang and marched. They rolled up their sleeves, worked up a sweat and talked about winning elections.

Democrats meeting two weeks ago in Presque Isle did nothing of the sort. The turnout of just a few hundred delegates was dismal and empty chairs don’t cheer much. Beneath a veneer of brave talk was the pervasive concern that the party won’t even get the 5 percent of gubernatorial votes it needs to remain an official party. It would be a convention to forget if there was any danger of anyone remembering it.

Yes, Republicans enjoy the advantage of having three better-known candidates for governor, with each having a distinguished record of public service. Democrats have two names on the ballot — period — and a write-in. Apathy usually is the sin of voters, not of the leadership of a major political party.

There are two theories in currency as to why the Democrats failed to come up with a front-line candidate for governor: 1) no Democrat of stature wanted to tarnish the record with a certain loss to a hugely popular incumbent; 2) Democratic leadership cut a deal with the governor — no opposition in return for support for their legislative agenda. The first theory is far more plausible. Democrats are far more capable of craven gutlessness than of pulling off a conspiracy that requires any degree of subtlety.

There is more at stake here than just the Blaine House. The top of the ticket is supposed to boost candidates for other offices and a vigorous convention is supposed to give a bounce that gets the general election campaign off to a roaring start. The leaders of Maine Democrats have failed to provide either a boost or a bounce, possibly jeopardizing their hold on the Legislature.

Even worse, the parties are supposed to stand for something. There is the assumption of a strong philosophical base, of a set of core beliefs, that draws like-minded people together. Democratic rank-and-file would have a hard time finding any fundamental values in the actions of their leadership.

As recent referendums in Maine on forestry and gay rights have shown, elections go not to those who lead in the opinion polls but to those who energize their voters enough to go to the actual polls. Republicans have lit a fire. Someone on the Democratic side should at least start rubbing some sticks together.