Staff photos by Hank Seaman If you were a candidate yesterday this was your mantra. Despite the best efforts and winning smiles of campaign workers such as 15-year-old Stephanie Michaud of New Bedford, right, poor voter turnout was endemic throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and the state as a near nor'easter dumped torrents of rain. Like poll workers everywhere, Lena Costa, Beatrice McGuire and Joseph R. Bergeron (left to right above) sat for hours at the Parker School in New Bedford with little to do. Cities and towns in the area reported single-digit turnouts with local election officials blaming not only the rain but a dearth of contested races. Roughly 28 percent of Westport voters went to the polls -- only 7 percent of Rochester's did.
