National Perspective: The peculiar politics of Maine

NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine — Could towns like this, a tiny crossroads of fewer than 1,300 households — now draped in brilliant autumn foliage colors, by Election Day perhaps resting quietly under a gentle dust of snow — decide whether Democrats or Republicans rule the House, whether subpoena-assisted investigations are mounted against President Donald J. Trump and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whether impeachment proceedings are undertaken against either, or both, of them?

Could Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin, who stopped here the other day to help dedicate a bridge in honor of a slain police officer, be defeated by challenger Jared Golden, who left college shortly after the 2001 terrorist attacks to join the Marines and who is campaigning with tattoos that feature a Celtic cross, the sun and the moon — and with the new moderate Democratic rhetoric full of the words “change” and “service” and “leadership?”