METHUEN — Sen. Hillary Clinton would be president if Methuen Democrats had their way. Sen. John Kerry would win a fifth term representing this state on Capitol Hill, but not by the landslide he's accustomed to.
Clinton trounced Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, taking 65 of the 93 votes cast in a straw poll at the annual Methuen Democratic Committee breakfast yesterday at the senior center.
In the only other contested Democratic race, Kerry bested Gloucester attorney Edward O'Reilly, 54 to 39 votes.
The informal, unscientific poll is used to gauge the support and strength of a campaign's organizational ability.
Anyone who bought a $15 ticket to the breakfast was eligible to participate in the straw poll, so the outcome reflects only a small sample of voter opinion. In a scientific poll, participants are selected at random to more accurately reflect the electorate.
The presidential race results were no surprise, committee chairman Eleni Varitimos said. Clinton took Methuen 5,207 to 2,168 in the Feb. 5 state presidential primary.
"Clinton won this area before. ... It's nice to see," Varitimos said. "Now, Kerry and O'Reilly. That could be an interesting primary coming up."
O'Reilly said he was encouraged by coming so close, especially since he brought none of his own supporters to the event.
"The Kerry campaign brought in supporters from outside Methuen," he said. "I think the people of Methuen can see I'm a working man. I am someone they can identify with. ... I'm going to have to get past the name recognition."
Kerry's brother Cameron, of Brookline, spoke to the crowd yesterday in the senator's place. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, also made an appearance.
The Methuen committee also honored James P. Jajuga, president of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and a former state senator, as Democrat of the year.
With the citations and plaques, Jajuga — a conservative Democrat known for sometimes going against his own party's views — received some light-hearted jabs.
"When that was announced at the state level, three people had heart attacks," Mayor William Manzi joked about the award.
State Sen. Steven Baddour later added: "This is living proof that time heals all wounds. ... We always joke that he's a little farther from the right than many people want him to be."
A former state police trooper, Jajuga was a state senator for 12 years, helping to pass legislation around needle exchange, drug addiction and stalking.
In 2001, he was appointed state secretary of public safety under Acting Republican Governor Jane Swift's administration, where he served for 18 months and later became a consultant.
"Jim represents the best part of the Democratic Party, the willingness to help people in need," Varitimos said.
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Results of Methuen Democrats straw poll
U.S. President
Hillary Clinton#65
Barack Obama#28
U.S. Senator
John Kerry#54
Edward O'Reilly#39
U.S. Congress
Niki Tsongas#76
MA. Senator
Steven Baddour#82
MA. Representative, 15th Essex district
Linda Dean Campbell#86
MA. Representative, 18th Essex district
Barbara L'Italien#76
