Mitt Romney Claims Victory in Maine Caucuses
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(Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo)
Less than two hours after he was declared the winner of the Conservative Political Action Conference’s straw poll today, Mitt Romney was declared the winner of Maine’s caucuses with 39 percent of the vote.
The victories marked a positive end to what had been a bad week for the former Massachusetts governor. After losing the caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota, two states that he carried in 2008, Romney was able to break his streak and regain some of that momentum by carrying Maine for the second primary cycle in a row.
“I thank the voters of Maine for their support” Romney said in a paper statement. “I’m committed to turning around America. And I’m heartened to have the support of so many good people in this great state.”
The results, as expected, were close. Ron Paul came in second place with 36 percent. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich came in third and fourth place, with 18 percent and 6 percent respectively. Maine holds 24 delegates, but they will not be awarded until May.
Turnout was low in the caucus, though essentially unchanged from 2008. There were 5,585 votes cast over the course of the week-long caucuses — about 1 percent of the voting-eligible population. In 2008, 5,482 votes were cast.
The second place finish is a disappointment for Ron Paul. The Texas congressman, who had acknowledged that he needed a win in order to remain a credible candidate for the nomination, said he believed Maine was likely his best hope for such a victory, in part because of the state’s strong independent streak.
Though Romney spent Friday evening and Saturday morning hosting events in Maine, Paul had spent more time stumping in the state than any of his GOP opponents. He was the only candidate in the state when the caucus results were announced.
Paul stated his disappointment when he addressed supporters at his Maine headquarters in Portland this evening, but he predicted that he will ultimately take the majority of delegate support when the state selects its delegates to the Republican National Convention. Paul also vowed to keep on going.
“It would have been great to win outright, but it’ll even be better to win the delegates,” Paul said. “Momentum is going to continue, we’re not going away.”
The end of Maine’s caucus marks the beginning of a two-week break from voting contests. Arizona and Michigan are the next two primaries on the calendar; both states will host their contests on Feb. 28.
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Go Ron Paul! Defeat that Goldman Sacks puppet Romney! A win for Paul is a win for humanity. Mitt is another Obama who will lie and cheat his way to the top if people fall for his B.S.
Posted by: ken | February 11, 2012, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
Obama-lite wins his third caucus. Give me a bag of chips and tv remote folks. MSM must be relieved.
Posted by: Snarky | February 11, 2012, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
MANIE BIG DEAL, IT COST HIM A LOT OF MONEY, OBAMA CAN NOT STOP LAUGHING . HE WILL NOT BINGO AFTER SPENDING MILLIONS. HE IS UNFIT HE HAS A SECRET ALONG WITH CUTTING TAXES FOR THE RICH HOW HE WAS GOING TO GET ANY THING DONE. OBAMA PLAN IS TAKING HOLD EMPLOYEMENT UP, STOCK MARKET UP, WE ARE MOVING IN RIGHT DIRECTION, DESPITE REPUBLICAN IN CONGRESS.
Posted by: BENNIEC | February 11, 2012, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
Ron Paul is actually going to win Maine. The vote is only a popularity contest. The real winner is who gets the most delegates, and Ron Paul is getting his supporters to actually become delegates, so the numbers the media puts out is incorrect, as they just list “projected” delegates, but they can vote for whoever, and most are going for Ron Paul. The simple fact is that only Ron Paul and Mitt Romney have the resources to amass enough delegates to get the nomination. The Grinch and Santorum aren’t even on the ballot in 5 states, so they have no viable chance at all.
Posted by: Mike Ikeo | February 12, 2012, 1:01 am 1:01 am
Mitt, you can win all the caucas you want they don’t amount to a hill of beans.
Posted by: Joe Petitjean | February 12, 2012, 2:14 am 2:14 am
Go Ron Paul!!
if u look at how Ron Paul debated his opponents, he is always truth to himself….
Posted by: david | February 12, 2012, 5:41 am 5:41 am
Romney and the GOP know that Washington County Ron Paul’s strongest, will not vote until next week at which time Ron Paul will likely take the victory. Will it be news by then? Media leading people by the hand through this whole process.
Posted by: D. Barber | February 12, 2012, 5:53 am 5:53 am
Wow 39% of just over 5000 votes and 36% for crazy Uncle Ron.The President must be shaking in his boots.
Posted by: Jim | February 12, 2012, 6:43 am 6:43 am
Ron and his supporters just don’t get it. He isn’t electable but, keep sending him money, fools.
Posted by: Indymind | February 12, 2012, 7:21 am 7:21 am
It’s sort of sweet how Dr Paul’s supporters see every defeat as a victory. Sort of sweet but full on delusional.
Posted by: ashadulailahaillallah | February 12, 2012, 7:47 am 7:47 am
In the UK we can bet on elections. Hell, we can bet on anything and everything. And the thing is that the bookies rarely get it wrong; that’s why they are rich and the punters aren’t. Romney is currently 1 to 4 on; ie a £10 flutter would win you £2.50 (plus you’d get your stake back). Ron Paul is 25 to 1; ie a £10 flutter would return £250 (plus your stake back). ‘Nuff said.
Posted by: 2hundredthousand | February 12, 2012, 7:55 am 7:55 am
For the sake of completeness Santorum is 4 to 1 (£10 wins £40) and Gingrich is seen by our bookies as as big an outsider as Paul at 25 to 1 (£10 wins £250). Marc Rubio is the favourite to get the Republican Vice Presidential nomination at 3 to 1 and Palin and Bachmann are 50 to 1 extreme outsiders.
Posted by: 2hundredthousand | February 12, 2012, 8:09 am 8:09 am
LOL! ….. Where’s “NewCountryMan” here? His hero is back in the lead.
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | February 12, 2012, 9:14 am 9:14 am
May I expand a bit my previous thoughts that contained all that is within our current and recently past purview regarding these roundabout and raucously riling issues? Thanks. Let me expand on that a bit: the concentric metrics of Obama spasms in maledictory attempts at reconciling with wacky weirdsters from the left has resulted in the degenerate deconstruction of the maladies of misty mists afflicting his naughty attempts at radical reelection. He made a mistake, it can be ceremoniously cretinized and rectified by November, with luck and more jock-strap like support from sycophants everywhere. Surely and sanctimoniously, craven charts and gluttoneous graphs surreptitious stats can aid in the visual and experiential experiences of pontificatory propaganda on and surrounding our egregious attempts at marauding and marranging the moronical masses who no not knowingly know which dire direction to praise, plead, or stumblingly stumble, or even truculently trot. Heed my advice and info contained solidly and slippery within, or just be a clear dummy or a prancing poltroon.
Posted by: davem | February 12, 2012, 11:03 am 11:03 am
Just like Elmer Fudd, still chasing “pesky wabbits”, and still failing miserably. Much like Obama himself. LOL! And…hehehehehe…
Posted by: Elmer Fudd Is Definitely a Dim Dem | February 12, 2012, 11:14 am 11:14 am
None of this helps Obama defend against his own failures and corruption. But whatever.
Posted by: bereal | February 12, 2012, 11:15 am 11:15 am
“None of this helps Obama defend against his own failures and corruption. But whatever.”
POSTED BY: BEREAL
True, and where our focus should be.
Posted by: lexington lady | February 12, 2012, 11:19 am 11:19 am
It seems that the Obama adm. is not going to be able to withstand sensible scrutiny. Too much wrong with their picture.
Posted by: dan | February 12, 2012, 11:21 am 11:21 am
Nice job Mitt, 61 percent voted against you. WOW what a stunning victory!
Posted by: dan | February 12, 2012, 11:25 am 11:25 am
Stop WITH all ofthe COMPLAININNG!!! The PRESIDENT is doing the BEST he can. Just PAY your HIGHER taxes!!!!!
Posted by: demnme5 | February 12, 2012, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Of course, I do admit that Obama may also have that many vote against him in November. Sad but perhaps inevitable.
Posted by: dan | February 12, 2012, 11:32 am 11:32 am
Thanks again for showing just how misguided and goofy some of the teenage Obamabots truly are. We appreciate the absurdly nonsensical insults and 24/7 posts in that regard. Good luck.
Posted by: FORREST GUMP Rules | February 12, 2012, 11:33 am 11:33 am
Maybe Obama will lose to Romney, but I don’t think it will be as huge of a defeat as you say, or imply, Dan. Things do look bleak, however.
Posted by: emerald_sparks | February 12, 2012, 11:39 am 11:39 am
I am becoming more disenchunted every day. But since i am now more mobile with my new Hoveround, I don’t care as much. Either way, as an older gay man who receives a government check, I will be voting for Obama no matter what.
Posted by: blip | February 12, 2012, 11:42 am 11:42 am
Is it just my imagination, or have Obama’s freakishly large ears gotten even larger? Is it the lying?
Just sayin’, lol.
Posted by: kimberly | February 12, 2012, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Obama may indeed break the suckage meter before November rolls around. Then it’ll be even easier to un-elect our cancer in chief.
Posted by: sai | February 12, 2012, 11:52 am 11:52 am
Of course, Obama may still win — if he can lie well enough, and if the American public still has a desire to be duped.
Posted by: dan | February 12, 2012, 11:58 am 11:58 am
“Reading my 11:43 AM post, someone saw themselves in a mirror. (hehehehehe!)”
Yes, obviously you. LOL!!!!!!! Get real about it.
Posted by: 2hundredthousand | February 12, 2012, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
“LOL! ….. Where’s “NewCountryMan” here? His hero is back in the lead.”
POSTED BY: FORREST GUMP IS DEFINITELY A REPUBLICAN
Just how many times does he have to tell you that he’s not interested in hooking up? Stop stalking him, fopdoodle.
Posted by: Yet Again | February 12, 2012, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
Face it.
Mitt Romney is according to Jack Welch former CEO or General Electric “The Most Quailified Candidate in my Lifetime to run for President”.
The Real “anybody but Romney” is BIGOTRY toward Mr. Romney’s Faith. Evangelicals meet privately in Texas before the South Carolina primary to try to derail him….That was Bigotry. South Carolinain’s selecting a Morally bankrupt Newt Gingrich over Romney was another attempt to derail him. Santorum who was nowhere until a week before the Iowa vote was the beneficiary of the Iowa attempt to derail him.
Republican’s Ann Coulter is Right….to beat Barrak Obama you MUST win the Independant Voters. Santorum who may sound your Social platforms IS NOT ELECTABLE. Newt Gingrich is FLAWED and not ELECTABLE.
Stop the Bigotry and get behind Mitt Romney or get 4 more years of a Closet Muslim who hates Jews and Wall Street.
Posted by: ron | February 13, 2012, 2:33 am 2:33 am
The Real “anybody but Romney” is BIGOTRY toward Mr. Romney’s Faith……Stop the Bigotry and get behind Mitt Romney or get 4 more years of a Closet Muslim who hates Jews and Wall Street.
Posted by: ron | February 13, 2012, 2:33 am.
Typical Republican hypocritical bigot. Whining about religious bigotry towards Willard while calling the president a “closet Muslim who hates Jews.” The sad and really pathetic part is, you don’t even see the hypocrisy. Because for idiots like you, it’s perfectly OK to BE bigoted towards Muslims (even though Obama is a Christian.) Get a clue, Ron.
Posted by: Disgusted with gop | February 13, 2012, 8:33 am 8:33 am
Now wait just a minute here, folks, who says Obama is a closet muslim……….something else in his background we have to DIG OUT ?
Posted by: justj joey | February 20, 2012, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm