Michelle Malkin » The Maine caucus: A reader report Update: Romney ahead, heavy turnout despite bad weather; Update: Romney wins

The Maine caucus: A reader report Update: Romney ahead, heavy turnout despite bad weather; Update: Romney wins

By Michelle Malkin • February 2, 2008 12:46 PM

Scroll down for updates…

The Maine caucus is today. It’s a presidential preference poll that’ll offer a boost to the winning candidate, but not delegates. The process continues today and tomorrow: “The Maine Republican Party said voters will participate in caucuses held in 80 percent of municipalities, up from 54 percent in 2006. Maine voters want to ‘make some noise before Super Tuesday,’ said Joseph Reisert, chairman of the Government Department at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.”

Reader Erin writes in:

Hi Michelle,

I just got back from the caucus in my district in Maine. Romney was immensely popular today; of course there were a lot of Ron Paul nuts, and I saw no supporters of McCain.

Olympia Snowe came in to speak on behalf of McCain. She was not too popular, and was very nearly booed. People got to Q&A her, and the overall sentiment was complete disdain for McCain’s liberal stance on immigration. One person even asked her why conservatives should rally McCain after he flirted with leaving the party and running as Kerry’s veep. She had no argument but to say “I don’t want to delve into rumors and hearsay.” (Rumors and hearsay?) She didn’t stick around long.

Anyway, my district tends to be conservative, but I am hopeful Romney does as well in the rest of the state.

Update 1:49pm Eastern. Romney’s ahead in early results…

Mitt Romney took an early lead in presidential preference voting by Maine Republicans as the first returns were counted Saturday from the party’s municipal caucuses, which GOP officials said were heavily attended across the state.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, had 59 percent of the vote with 3 percent of the towns holding caucuses reporting. Ron Paul trailed with 19 percent, John McCain had 18 percent, and Mike Huckabee and undecided votes each had about 2 percent.

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.

Despite a sleet storm the night before that left much of the state coated with slush and ice, 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 being 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.

Update: Romney wins.

His statement:

Today, the people of Maine joined those from across the nation in casting their vote for conservative change in Washington. All across the state, men and women gathered to help chart the future course of our country. Tonight, they have made their voice known and have endorsed our conservative vision for a stronger America. Like many Americans, the people of Maine are tired of Washington promises made but broken.”

Romney went on to say, “The need for change in Washington is even more apparent today. With our economy facing uncertain times, we need a leader who actually understands how the economy works and how jobs are created. We also need a leader from outside of Washington who is ready to meet the long-term challenges facing our country. With a career spent working in the economy, creating jobs, turning around faltering institutions and imposing fiscal discipline, I am ready to bring conservative change to Washington. In this campaign, I am proud to have the support of the people of Maine.”

Posted in: 2008 campaign

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#1

On February 2nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm, MrVIBEMAN said:

My fingers are crossed for a huge showing of support for Romney.

Needless to say, like many of you, I’ll be watching Super Tuesday VERY closely.
#2

On February 2nd, 2008 at 1:18 pm, MCPO Airdale said:

Thanks to you and Erin for bringing some hope to this disgruntled conservative.
#3

On February 2nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm, DesertLover said:

I would love to see Romney with a landslide from Maine … the one thing it would accomplish is make some people out there take time to look at everything a little more thoroughly between now and Tuesday … people are listening to too much media spin and polls instead of taking the personal responsibility to find out about the candidates records …
#4

On February 2nd, 2008 at 1:46 pm, xplodeit said:

This Super Tuesday voter is voting for Mitt. Vote no to McShamnesty!
#5

On February 2nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm, The Raging Republican said:

“Make some noise.”

Holla!
#6

On February 2nd, 2008 at 2:11 pm, Boomer said:

I will be backing Mitt when I go in on Super Tuesday myself. Depsite Mitt’s negatives they out weigh McCain’s by a long shot.
#7

On February 2nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm, Tom Remington said:

Let’s reinvent the term that once belonged to Maine - “As Maine Goes, So Goes The Nation.”
#8

On February 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm, DanME said:

My home is Maine, but I’m snow birding down in Floriduh. I hate caucuses. Every state should have a primary so we could vote absentee. That damn senator Snowe really annoys me to no end. She’s the most liberal Republican in the senate. I guess I’ll email her for the hundredth time to let her know what I think of her supporting McCain…I have another name for him but I don’t think I should type it here.
#9

On February 2nd, 2008 at 4:12 pm, bit_boy said:

This thread is so much more encouraging than the Fox Cable Poll reporting McVain 40% Romney 20%. So much for their being on the spot by duh Fair and Balanced. Thanks Maine, I’ll keep up my McVain web adhominems of Little Caesar.
#10

On February 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 pm, commonsensemom said:

I know it’s only 3% reporting, but that’s a pretty big margin. Let’s hope this gets more airtime than Romney’s Wyoming win did… and less “rationalizing” than his Nevada win did… and, well, he didn’t grow up in Maine, hasn’t outspent his rivals on advertising by 10-1. Guess the naysayers are going to have to come up with another “reason” for his success there.
#11

On February 2nd, 2008 at 9:12 pm, zorro said:

Romney scores! Hooray!
#12

On February 2nd, 2008 at 10:28 pm, tacodawn said:

I was in a really bad mood until now!

Congrats Mitt!
#13

On February 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 pm, hadsil said:

New England is not lost to Romney. Vote Romney - the only true Republican still in the race.
#14

On February 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 pm, jwalker said:

As Maine goes so does California or so I pray. I’m pulling the handle for Mitt. I think talk radio and bloggers had a hand in Maine. Keep it up!!
#15

On February 2nd, 2008 at 11:40 pm, chewydog said:

She was not too popular, and was very nearly booed.

Not to nitpick, but, how is one nearly (almost, not quite) booed? Booed with one O? Sorry, just struck me as odd.
#16

On February 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 am, F15mech said:

Olympia Snowe came in to speak on behalf of McCain. She was not too popular, and was very nearly booed

Snowe was almost booed?

That is a first.

I grew up in Maine (still have family in Maine) and I never thought I would hear the day where Snowe was booed.
#17

On February 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 am, Kini said:

TUESDAY, tuesday.
#18

On February 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 am, NJRepublican said:

But what kind of boost will it give when the MSM is so quiet about it? I can’t even find a report of the final tally. At 68% reporting: Romney 52%, McCain 22%. Why isn’t this getting more press? That’s a huge win! Of course even if they did report it, they’d be saying “doesn’t count - no delegates” “no one campaigned there” — more of the same like with Nevada and Wyoming. I think I heard more about Hillary’s wins in no delagate states though. It’s really a shame that McCain is likely to win this because the media is constantly downplaying Romney and boosting “the comeback kid”.
#19

On February 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 am, DanME said:

Snowe won the last election with 70 percent of the vote. Maine is no conservative state. People in Maine are poor and just vote all those entitlement give aways. Snowe is the most liberal Republican in the senate. Susan Collins is not too far behind.