Romney Scores A Win In Maine GOP Caucus

Heavy Turnout Of Down-Easter Republicans Braves Sleet And Ice To Voice Their Preferences

(CBS/AP)  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.

[irliberal]

GO HILLARY 08! WOOHOO!!

[akoeppen]

Romney is what we need! Not the arrogant McCain or the Holy Roller Huckabee! The liberal media will never give Romney a fair shake.

[apinchofsalt]

Romney can''t win the nomination and should step aside for Huckabee. Go Huckabee!

[iceman_1960]

Forget about it, Romney and Huckabee.

John McCain is the man destined to concede to Barack Obama in November.

[cbville72]

Guiliani dropped out this week. After Super Tuesday. Huckabee will then drop out. That will leave his supporters in line behind Romney most likely. It will then be a two man race between Romney and McCain. Either one of them will beat the two Democrats. The simple fact that the democratic party could muster no better than Clinton or Obama is their own fault.

[iceman_1960]

The GOP will be defeated in November.

Even if Rev. Huckabee performed a miracle and raised Ronald Reagan from the dead as the GOP candidate, the Republicans are going down in flames.

You can take that to the bank.

[louthesz9]

You know what, if you''re voting on the Republican primary, you really gotta vote for Romney. And don''t waste stuff on Huckleberry and Ron Paul, alright? I mean enough is enough here. You don''t want to see a McCain, Hillary or McCain, Obama race, OK? Because it''s going to be a race to give out the most goodies to the illegal aliens. If Hillary wins the presidency, we''re gonna see Bill Clinton running things instead of her. We''re gonna end up with this weird co-presidency again, another circus.That''s 28 years of the Bushes and the Clintons, assuming Hillary would win the 2nd term. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I don''t want to see their faces anymore. Let some other family occupy the White House.

[iceman_1960]

We"ve never had a Rodham in the White House before.

Hillary would be the first.

[cbville72]

Romney or McCAin beat either Clinton or Obama.

Romney''s economic background is better than any of the 4 candidates still left. The Democrats haev nobody to blame but themselves.

[iceman_1960]

The GOP really think they"ll be rewarded for the Bush years in November ?

Or they"ll get by just by not mentioning Dubya in their speeches.

Think again.

George W. Bush will be the Willie Horton of 2008.(*)



(*) Source:

Iceman_1960

[iceman_1960]

"The Republicans are in no position to be talking about fiscal responsibiility, after adding trillions to the national debt in the last few years" - Barack Obama

He"s right on.

Governor Romney was a loser in Massachusetts, which lagged the job growth average of the nation as a whole, while increasing the tax burden.

He won"t even carry that state.

[vigilante177]

The Huckster is just John McAmnesty''s lap dog.

The only candidate of real change left is Mitt Romney!!!

[iceman_1960]

Willard Romney wouldn"t even carry Massachusetts.

He"s John Edwards with a bad haircut.

[cbville72]

The Democrats had a poor candidate in 2000
The result was a loss.
The Democrats had a poor candidate in 2004
The result was a loss
The Democrats are in the midst of nominating a poor candidate for 2008

The result will be a loss and on election day you''ll hear the word "disenfranchise" by people who don''t even know what the word means.
Thank You.

[iceman_1960]

The present economic decline has turned a probable Democratic victory in November, into a certainty.

The polling numbers are now too bad for the GOP, to be reversed in the short time remaining.

[iceman_1960]

Turn out the lights, the GOP party"s over:

"Friday, January 04, 2008

Voters continue to trust Democrats more than Republicans on most key issues, according to the latest data from a Rasmussen Reports tracking poll.

Democrats get the nod on nine of ten issues we asked about. They lead by double digits on six of the ten: the Economy, Immigration, Government Ethics and Corruption, Health Care, Social Security, and Education."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/
politics/mood_of_america/
trust_on_issues/trust_on_issues

[iceman_1960]

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/trust_on_issues/trust_on_issues

[iceman_1960]

"Romney"s economic background is better than any of the 4 candidates still left."

Ross Perot was a successful businessman too. So was Jimmy Carter.

The American people aren"t stupid.

They"ll see past this "VOTE FOR ME -- I MET A PAYROLL !!" bulls*hit.

Without Karl Rove"s dirty tricks, it"s all over.

[cbville72]

It''s gonna be fun to watch the election go down in flames for the Democrats as it did the last 2 times.
Rommney has the most economic experience and success of any of the candidates.

I love how the democratic controlled congress was unable to get their "GOVT CONTROLLED HEALTHCARE" package past the President and how they were unable to stop the troop surge that brought violence down throughout Iraq. The doolitle congress headed by Nancy "crazy eyes" Pelosi is a joke.
Can''t wait to see Hillary give her "concession" speach in front of all her crying lib supporters.

HaHa.
PRECIOUS

[wonderyman-2009]

GOPs are Bushwhacked this time around. And they know it deep down.
Any discussion on Romney contra McCain contra Huckabee is a waste of time and energy.
Remember:
"The state of the Union is strong", "The state of the Union is still strong", "the state of the Union is strong".....and so on.....

[cbville72]

ICEMAN will be one of those sobbing supporters.

Hillary will scratch her head (or nuts) and wonder how it all went wrong.

Lookinf forward to seeing Rommney run the country

[Krazcarl]

I''m from Me. they were just buying into the Kennedy legacy and are stupid trying to draw attention to their pitafull lives.

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

Is this a possible sign that many people in Maine are in fact reasoning impaired?

Romney looks and sounds like a used car salesman.

His chances of getting elected president of the United States are the EXACT SAME as him becoming the next Pope or Czar of Russia...

[wonderyman-2009]

"The state of the Union is strong", "The state of the Union is still strong", "the state of the Union is strong", "the state of the Union is still strong....
Bush is in denial of the expression "mess".
"Mess" covers his "military" time (a chirade), his escapade in business - a total co**-up, as has been his presidency with his second term due to defunct voting machines on Jeb''s turf.

[wonderyman-2009]

It took two women to keep Bush in line and off the booze.
It''s going to take one tough woman to clean up the state of the Union he''s leaving.

[joyous88]

It proves that a republican will vote for whatever thay tell him to vote for

[observantx]

Hmmmm. Let''s recall some recent history.

Jack Abramoff
Mark Foley
Dennis Hastert
Tom Delay
Ted Stevens
Larry Craig
Gonzo
Donald Rumsfeld
The bridge to nowhere
Mission Acomplished
We''re turning the corner
yellowcake
mobile biological labs
WMD
aluminum tubes
swift boating
Karl Rove
Scooter Libby
outing Valere Plame
warrantless wire taps
torture
extraordinary rendition
secret prisons
yellow alert
orange alert
duct tape and plastic
K street
Harriet Meirs for scotus
heckova job Brownie
poisonous FEMA trailers
homelessness
Walter Reed
multiple tours of Iraq
Katrina neglect and incompetence
My Pet Goat


I hope history doesn''t repeat itself and we get another Repugnican GW clone doofus like the Mittster for prez.

The problem is he''s got lotsa $$ to flood the media with jingoist and flag waving BS to sway enough slack jaws out there to win the nomination

[louthesz9]

Would you rather want a McCain, Hillary or McCain, Obama race? That''s gonna be a race to give out the most freebies to the illegal aliens out of our own tax money. If you only see McCain in that military uniform and choose to ignore the rest of his policies then, by all means, go vote for him. If you''re still enamored with the Clintons for who knows what reason, then vote for Hillary. I guarantee you, once they sign that amnesty bill, the U.S. is gonna be in a world of hurt. Our GOD-BLESSED United States of America will turn into a third-world cesspool like Mexico. If you''re voting in the Republican primary, you really gotta vote for Romney.

[closethippy1]

Maine seems to be full of Republican rancor. A lot of people there are weird.

[realpatriot1]

cloethippy1,

These are the same people who grabbed their rifles, hopped in their lobster boats, and went after Russian trollers when they crossed the 200 mile limit.

They don''t call themselves Maineiacs for nothing!

[rowdytexan2]

Good God! Just wait we need in the White House...another corporationist freak that cares nothing but for watching the money for his friends.

[ontheleft]

Romney has no chance. Only 20% support among Republican voters. It''s too bad, because the Democratic candidates do much better against him than McCain.

[tibu987]

This letter to the editor of the Chicago Tribune, published February 1, 2008, struck me with it''''s brief but necessary approach to what is holding this Country from regaining it''''s supremacy in the world. Nothing will go well unless our politicians can drop this political partisan divisiveness and work for the common good and the uniting of all the people of this great Country. Only during World War II was this country united.
Together we can defeat any problem. To continue to be divided, is to lose control of our future.
....tibu987

Drastic Measure

For the second time in 35
years I''''ll take a Democratic
ballot. The first time was
when Barack Obama ran
for the U.,S. Senate. This
time it will be to support
his candidacy for president
The most critical problem
facing the U.S. isn''''t the
economy, global warming,
or Iraq. It''''s the divisive,
partisan politics that
dominates Washington.
Until we have leaders who
don''''t view every issue as a
"wedge" to divide the
electorate or as an
opportunity to make the
other side of the aisle look
bad, our government will
remain gridlocked --unable
to solve the problems that
affect its citizens.Obama is
the one candidate who
might be able to change
the tenor of the debate
in Washington.

Brent Grossland,
Petersburg, Ill.

[brianbwb-2009]

Willard (the other rat) will simply continue trickle down economics, while delivering the final insult to the American worker, "work harder, and tighten your belts, while me and my friends enjoy our caviar", and America''s economy will collapse on itself at around the three year mark of his presidency.

McCain will launch a military strike against Iran, and drive oil instantly to $10 per gallon, under his presidency, America will collapse six hours after the first bombs hit Iran.

Mrs. Clinton will wait for some as yet undefined sign of "victory" in Iraq before she will pull our troops out, but will also continue trickle down economics, She might actually complete her term, but the US will fall, precipitated by mass protests devolving into general anarchy in 2012, and the devalued dollar will force China to short the 1.6 trillion in debt that Bush borrowed for his illegal war, which will force OPEC to switch to the Euro.

Mr. Obama, if he manages to survive the inevitable assassination attempt, will slowly withdraw the troops, but the money will still be corrupted into the hands that steal it now. He might apply a few social "band aids" to the economy''s machete wounds, thus buying maybe six more years of life for the US.

But since all of them refuse to recognize the big disaster ahead, sooner or later, the fat lady will be singing, and probably sooner than later.

[feelfree1]

brianbwb at 11:47 PM,

You''ve got a heckuva'' view, over there!

[alabamabob1]

That a way Maine!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Romney!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are considering Romney look at the following LINKS and BE INFORMED!!!

Mark Levin %u2013 Rally for Romney before it is too late

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NDEzMDYzZjBkMDNhYjk0ZjdhZmJlZWNkMWQ1NjI4MGI

Michael Reagan (Ronald Reagan%u2019s son) said that McCain is no Reagan; read below link:

http://the.virginianfederalist.com/2008/02/michael-reagan-mccain-is-nothing-like.html

McCain considered being on a John Kerry-McCain ticket in 2004 in the Democrat party. Why would the liberals want McCain and McCain consider the offer if he was not a liberal like them? Read the history below

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4542473

Let''s surprise these liberals who have hi-jacked the Republican party with a SURGE of our own and vote for ROMNEY with overwhelming force!!!!!!!

[feelfree1]

Go ****** Runney!!!!

[spinster2]

Their isn''t going to be a nickles difference between Clinton, and McCain when it comes to the border. Obama will try to let the "fence" die a slow death for as long as possible until he finally relents and gives everyone amnesty in a trade to get the fence built. Romney will first push for the fence and then push to have all mexicans return to their home country and that will die a horrible death.

In the end, we''re going to end up with a fence and everybody will be able to stay regardless of who wins.

The bulk of our forces will be out of Iraq by late 2009 regardless of who wins. The republicans are simply looking for a graceful exit.

Taxes on the rich are going to jump with maybe just a little movement on the middle class regardless of who gets elected with the exception of Romney who isn''t going to make it to the big dance.

Barrack or Hillary will pass some healthcare plan that will be like putting a bandaid on your finger when your leg is bleeding.

After that, which one do you want to look at the most often. That''s the main question.

Wasn''t that the Rolling Stones who said "A vote for me is ,,,well,,,,a vote for me.

[feelfree1]

Spinster2,

Re: "The bulk of our forces will be out of Iraq by late 2009 regardless of who wins."

You are living in a dream-land if you believe this. There is no reason to think that this will happen, in any case.

Assuming that your prediction is correct though, what becomes of the remaining troops, with the bulk of the others withdrawn?

Target practice for the Iraqi resistance?

What about the nearly 200,000 civilian workers?

[kissamaarse]

Do the math. McCain says the U.S. will be in Iraq 100 years. That is $265 million per day X 365 days X 100 years. Sick, these politicians who pretend to be fiscally conservative, yet make our grandchildren pay for their folly.

[gce65]

I would have thought their CAUCUSES up in Maine would be shrunken and shriveled in the cold. Is that Romney''s legacy, a shrunken caucus?

[feelfree1]

kissamaarse,

Looks like around $10 trillion. Adjusted for inflation, around $453 kazillion.

Regime likers, here comes the hat....

[kissamaarse]

And Romney is trying to out-warmonger McCain? LOL! The Dems must be welcoming this debate ... Where is Ron Paul?

[kissamaarse]

FeelFree1:
Amen. What could I do, and the generations of my family behind me, with that kind of money?

[feelfree1]

kissamaarse,

Re: "Amen. What could I do, and the generations of my family behind me, with that kind of money?"

I don''t know about you, but your children and grandchildren could always burn it, to keep warm in the winter.

I share the assessment of "brianbwb at 11:47 PM", more or less.

[kissamaarse]

FeelFree1:
"Plan for the worst, but hope for the best." Wish I could attribute the quote ...

[feelfree1]

I heard that Mr. Nader may run again.

I hope so.

Then I would have a real choice in the election.

[kissamaarse]

Yep. I listened to McCain on the stump and he said Democrats are waving the white flag of surrender. Said he would never surrender until they do. Who is THEY?

[kissamaarse]

No offense to McCain supporters, but can we afford another president whose most common line are, "I do not recall. I cannot remember. I have no recollection." And then the last members of the great American middle class disappear into one of histories footnotes, if not rewritten into oblivion all together.

[kissamaarse]

We American need to vote in our collective self-interests this election. Not for some tribal-political reason, not for institutionalized politicians, and NOT because the corporate media lead us there, but for the real reasons precious to our families, and to our neighbors families.