John Kerry

Kerry's rivals wax optimistic

Massachusetts senator goes for third weekend win

Howard Dean braves the cold weather to speak to supporters outside of a caucus site in Bangor, Maine.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Story Tools

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CNN ELECTION EXPRESS

On the campaign trail: The latest Express Line dispatch

VIDEO

Kerry wins caucuses in Washington state and Michigan.

PLAY VIDEO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kerry sharpens his attack on the Bush administration.

PLAY VIDEO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOP may target Kerry by labeling him a "Massachusetts liberal."

PLAY VIDEO

RELATED

Gallery: Analyzing the results

Gallery: On the campaign trail

Gallery: The candidates, up closer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Kerry labels Bush 'extreme'

* Dean loses endorsement

* Edwards focuses on the South

* Analyzing Michigan, Washington

* Poll: Kerry has national appeal

DEMOCRATIC CONTESTS

* Sunday, February 8:

Maine caucuses

* Tuesday, February 10: Tennessee and Virginia primaries

*Tuesday, February 17:

Wisconsin primary

When is your primary? For more key dates in the 2004 election season, see our special America Votes 2004 Election Calendar

SPECIAL REPORT

* Complete February 3 results

* Upcoming Races: Washington, Michigan, Maine

* Delegate Scorecard

* Primary Explainer

* Special Report

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

America Votes 2004s Presidential Race

Democratic candidates

Presidential primaries

or Create your own

Manage alerts | What is this?

BANGOR, Maine (CNN) -- Democrats across Maine braved frigid winds Sunday to have their say in presidential caucuses in which 24 delegates to the party's nominating convention are up for grabs.

Front-runner Sen. John Kerry of neighboring Massachusetts entered the Maine contest with the momentum from two dominant first-place showings in Saturday's caucuses in Washington and Michigan.

Kerry also has the endorsements of Maine's Democratic governor, John Baldacci, and former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell. A win in Maine would be his 10th victory in 12 primaries and caucuses.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, struggling to revive his once-promising campaign, was the only candidate barnstorming the state Sunday, making stops in six cities, hoping his fellow New Englanders don't give him the cold shoulder.

"Maine folks are just like Vermont people -- they're very independent. And that's a great place to start the turnaround," Dean said after greeting supporters in Bangor who braved sub-zero wind chill to cheer their candidate.

Results from the caucuses were expected from party officials about 9 p.m.

Dean finished second in both caucuses Saturday. He got 30 percent of the delegate support in Washington, his best showing in any of the nominating contests held so far. But he was nearly 20 points behind Kerry, and 35 points behind him in Michigan.

In an appearance earlier in the day on CNN's "Late Edition," Dean insisted the race is far from over.

"With 15 percent of the delegates selected so far, I question whether Democrats really want to choose somebody that they don't know much about," Dean said. "I just think Democrats ought to be very careful about this.

"I hate to totally gild the lily, but in fact our second-place finishes are stronger than any we've