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Maine's Two Minor Political Parties Get Bounce

AUGUSTA, Maine - The national conventions gave the two major party presidential candidates - Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton - a bounce in the polls. Now, national polls are showing that other parties are getting an uptick in support from those upset with the major party choices.

Maine Libertarian Party Chair Chris Lyons says inquiries are up, and so are voter registrations. "Mainers tend to be a little more open-minded and independent-thinking.  And part of this is the dislike of the two major party candidates."

Green Party Chair Gil Harris says the same is true for the Greens. He says many of those contacting the party are Bernie Sanders supporters that are expressing interest in Jill Stein.  Stein will be formally nominated by the national Green Party next week.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.