Rita Moran

DENVER -- When Maine's Democratic National Committeewoman Jennifer DeChant was elected earlier this year, speculation ran rampant on the blogs that she was a Hillary Clinton supporter. Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention, however, she told PolitickerME.com that the only primary contender she backed was Joe Biden, the party's eventual vice presidential nominee.

DeChant had served as committeewoman - and therefore a superdelegate - before being ousted for missing too many meetings.

She was replaced by Rita Moran, chairwoman of the Kennebec County Democrats. Earlier this year party leaders decided to reconsider their action when they found out DeChant missed the meetings because of a difficult pregnancy.

DENVER – Rita Moran, a Barack Obama delegate from Winthrop, is heading the AFL-CIO’s efforts for the Maine delegation.

The AFL-CIO is out in full force at the Democratic National Convention. Interest groups have launched an aggressive campaign against the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that seeks to make it easier for unions to organize. The AFL-CIO, which looks out for unions, wants to make sure Democratic lawmakers stay on their side.

Moran said that in Maine the AFL-CIO doesn’t have anything to worry about. Both U.S. Reps. Tom Allen (D-Portland) and Mike Michaud (D-East Millinocket) are co-sponsors of the bill. Allen is running for Senate, and Democrat Chellie Pingree is eyeing his seat. She has said that she strongly supports the bill.

DENVER – Rita Moran, a Barack Obama delegate from Winthrop, said she was shocked by several people who interrupted an inter-faith gathering with anti-abortion messages Sunday.

The gathering was a religious service for convention attendees with clergy of different faiths, lead by Leah Daughtry, who was also the CEO of the convention.

One of the clergy did speak against abortion. Later there were three interruptions, the first two saying abortion was murder. They were removed by security. Then someone yelled that Obama was a baby killer. He was also removed, Moran said.

“It was a real shocker,” she said. “There was a small amount of applause, and lots of booing.”

Maine’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention are on both sides of the fence when it comes to having a roll call vote for Hillary Clinton.

Presumptive nominee Barack Obama’s campaign made the announcement along with Clinton’s campaign that Clinton’s name will be submitted for nomination in the first round of balloting.

Before the announcement was officially made, PolitickerME sent out an e-mail survey to all of the elected DNC delegates.

Two Clinton supporters responded, and both favored a roll call vote. Seven Obama supporters responded. Three favored a roll call, three opposed it and one would not comment on the issue.

Two candidates are vying for the state’s Democratic National Committeewoman post, who will be selected by state delegates at the Democratic State Convention this weekend.

Rita Moran chairs the Kennebec County Democrats and is a member of the state committee. She was originally elected committeewoman for the current term, but ousted after the state committee determined the vote to elect her was unfair. Jennifer DeChant of Bath had held the position before, and won her seat back. Moran is a second generation party organizer.

Maggie Allen of Madison is also seeking the seat. She is a former executive director of the Maine Democratic Party, and was a Regional Field Director for the Kerry/Edwards coordinated campaign in 2004. She is working on a doctorate degree in public policy from the University of Maine at Orono.