Area Obama backers to hold voter signups

AUGUSTA – Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign in Maine will be heading to gas stations in several towns in the state Thursday to register voters.

The Democratic presidential candidate’s campaign will hold registration drives Thursday in Brewer, Portland, Lewiston and Whiting. Volunteers will talk with motorists at the pumps.

Gas stations have become a focal point for political activity in Maine. Before the June primary, then-Republican congressional candidate Dean Scontras handed motorists cash rebates for federal and state gas taxes to underscore his support for a gas tax holiday.

Meanwhile, the nonpartisan group Women’s Voices is targeting 9,324 unmarried women in Maine in its voter registration push. The group says more than 370,000 single Maine women are unregistered.