The title is based on the political expression "As Maine goes, so goes the nation."
This episode aired a week before the 1964 United States presidential election, which was held on November 3rd. Lyndon Johnson, the incumbent, was re-elected to the presidency.
CORRECTION: Lyndon B. Johnson was indeed the incumbent president, but he was not "re-elected to the presidency" in the 1964 election, easily defeating Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. In 1960, Johnson was elected vice-president while John F. Kennedy was elected president. When Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Johnson succeeded him under Article II of the Constitution, so 1964 was technically his first time being elected to the presidency. Eligible to run again in 1968, Johnson declined to do so.
CORRECTION: Lyndon B. Johnson was indeed the incumbent president, but he was not "re-elected to the presidency" in the 1964 election, easily defeating Republican candidate Barry Goldwater. In 1960, Johnson was elected vice-president while John F. Kennedy was elected president. When Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Johnson succeeded him under Article II of the Constitution, so 1964 was technically his first time being elected to the presidency. Eligible to run again in 1968, Johnson declined to do so.
This is the first of three episodes with Virginia Sale playing Selma Plout. In 1966, Elivia Allman took over the role. Allman had previously played two different characters on the show. Likewise, Sale went on to play two different characters after Allman took over the role of Selma Plout.