About 70 shoppers flowed into Gulf of Maine Books on Saturday afternoon in a show of support for owners Gary Lawless and Beth Leonard.

The “cash mob” effort — which uses social media to organize small-scale, concentrated retail events — was initiated by Kippy Rudy of Bath.

An ardent Democrat, Rudy said she was “disgusted and offended” by recent political naughtiness demonstrated by members of the local Green Independent Party.

A week earlier, Lawless said at least one Green Independent party member demanded Lawless and Leonard remove campaign signs supporting Democratic legislative candidates from their bookstore windows.

Saturday’s gathering also functioned as an indirect rally in support of District 66 House candidate Mattie Daughtry, whom the Greens allegedly cited as too young and inexperienced to be elected.

It was the Greens’ disrespect of Daughtry that motivated Rudy to start calling cash mobsters and organize the event.

A longtime customer of the Maine Street bookery, Rudy said she frequent- ly votes against party and often has civil discussions with people of different political bents.

“I love that I have had opportunities to engage in dialogue that wasn’t negative, that it was a disagreement but at the same time a thoughtful experience,” she said. “Gary didn’t have that experience. He was threatened, and I just thought that was offensive, and this would be a way to express support for both (the store owners and Democrat candidates).”

Saturday’s attendance also featured members of the Brunswick Town Democratic Party and Emerge Maine, a Portland-based program that trains women to pursue public office.

jtleonard@timesrecord.com