Romney's underwhelming win in Maine

[ProSense]

Romney's underwhelming win in Maine

By Steve Benen

After a surprisingly poor showing in Tuesday's contests, and growing intra-party doubts about his candidacy, Mitt Romney needed a win to help change the larger conversation. Last night in Maine, he got one.

Mitt Romney averted embarrassment on Saturday when he was declared the winner of a presidential straw poll in Maine's nonbinding caucuses.

He won 39 percent of the vote, barely edging out Representative Ron Paul of Texas, the only other Republican candidate to campaign actively in the state. Mr. Paul drew 36 percent. [...]

Mr. Romney scraped by Mr. Paul by just 194 votes. But fewer than 6,000 votes were cast -- about 2 percent of registered Republicans.

Given the week they've had, Romney and his team will no doubt take some solace in their Maine victory, but it is not without caveats. The ostensible frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination should arguably be able to muster more than a three-point win over Ron Paul -- especially in light of Romney's perceived regional advantage in New England.

Indeed, Romney won Maine four years ago with nearly 52% of the vote. This year, he won with less than 40% support of Republican Mainers.

After the former governor's poor showing in Minnesota, Colorado, and Missouri, Romney backers effectively said those contests didn't count because Romney wasn't really trying to win in any of those states. That excuse doesn't apply in Maine -- fearing another embarrassment, Romney not only campaigned in the Pine Tree State, he also invested in radio and television advertising. He still only won by three points.

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http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/12/10388503-romneys-underwhelming-win-in-maine

A loss would have been a complete embarrassment for Mitt.

[onehandle]

1. It was a loss. The fix is in.

Romney hasn't won a single primary, imo.

[gopiscrap]

3. I agree

It astounds me how the public can not see how fucking utterly crooked the repuke party is...everyone of these primaries or caucuses with maybe the exceptiuon Florida was rigged!!! The party pukes do not want Santorum, Paul, Gingrich et al...they believe their best chance rides with Willard, so they'll do everything they can to steal the vote from the others. My understanding is that there is a coty in Maine heavily Ron Paul that won't even count. My other understanding is that Ron Paul actually leads in the actual delegate count right now because of the way he is structuring his campaign. ASndoh, btw: the msm is complicet in all this IMHO!!!!

[Angry Dragon]

2. This is for Willard Rmoney

[FarLeftFist]

4. 6000 people voted. SAD.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Washington County might well have given Paul the win.

In fact, now that the semi-results are now, it wouldn't surprise me if Paul cleans up in the Washington County caucuses next weekend. If he does, Mitt loses. Whitney Houston's sudden death tamped down the political news...but a reversal of Romney's "win" up here in Maine will probably get a lot more attention.

[ProSense]

6. That

"a reversal of Romney's 'win' up here in Maine will probably get a lot more attention."

...would be embarrassing for Mitt, the GOP and the media.