Romney Scores A Win In Maine GOP Caucus

Mitt Romney celebrated a victory in presidential preference voting by Maine Republicans as returns were counted Saturday from the party's municipal caucuses, which were heavily attended across the state.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, had 53 percent of the vote with 47 percent of the towns holding caucuses reporting. John McCain trailed with 21 percent, Ron Paul was third with 19 percent, and Mike Huckabee had 5 percent. Undecided votes accounted for 2 percent.

"I think it's a harbinger of what you're going to see on Tuesday," Romney said to reporters while campaigning in Minnesota. "It's coming kind of late in the process but not really too late."

The nonbinding votes, the first step toward electing 18 Maine delegates to the Republican National Convention, were taking place in public schools, Grange halls, fire stations and town halls across the state.

"You know that there've been seven contests prior to Maine. I won three. Senator McCain won three," Romney said. "With this, that gives me the edge, four to three. I don't weigh them all the same, of course. I'm really pleased nonetheless to have this victory and particularly in a setting where there's been such a spirited debate among the different campaigns."

Despite a sleet storm the night before that left much of the state coated with slush and ice Saturday morning, cars jammed the parking lot outside an Augusta elementary school where Kennebec County municipalities were caucusing.

Signs promoting the candidates were jabbed in snowbanks, and inside the school gym speeches were given on behalf of candidates as around 300 party members listened and occasionally broke into cheers.

Kim Pettengill, who has been a party activist for more than three decades, said Saturday's was the largest Kennebec County caucus turnout since 1980, the year Ronald Reagan won his first GOP nomination for president.

Party Executive Director Julie O'Brien said other counties reported similarly heavy turnouts.

Republican caucuses were being held in about 410 Maine municipalities, most on Saturday. A few dozen towns, especially in northern Maine's Aroostook County, held caucuses Friday, and a few more were set for Sunday and later this month.

The Maine Democrats hold their presidential preference votes at municipal caucuses on Feb. 10.