Romney Announced as Maine Caucus Victor; Ron Paul a Close Second

Ros Krasny
Reuters
February 11, 2012

COMMENT: Of course, as it has been often noted recently, the real fight is for the delegates– where Ron Paul has a well organized and dedicated following focused on “occupying” the delegate seats. So who is the real likely winner today? And who gets headline bragging rights?

Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney bounced back from midweek losses in three states to narrowly win Maine’s caucuses on Saturday, hours after winning a straw poll of Republican conservative activists.

Results of Maine’s non-binding straw poll showed the former Massachusetts governor with 39 percent support, or 2,190 votes, ahead of libertarian Texas Congressman Ron Paul with 36 percent or 1,996 votes.

Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, who did not campaign in Maine, won 18 percent and 6 percent of the vote, respectively. Despite signs of higher voter turnout, the votes cast in Maine appeared to be only slightly above 2008 levels.

The outcome capped a good day for Romney, who unexpectedly lost to Santorum, a social conservative, in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado on Tuesday to generate new doubts about his appeal to party conservatives. Republicans are seeking a nominee to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama in the November 6 general election.

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This article was posted: Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 6:41 pm

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