Ron Paul takes commanding early lead in Maine Caucus [Paul 43% over Romney 33%]

February 11th, 2012 by Jeffrey Phelps Source: here.

Credit: Getty Images Ron Paul looks to win his first state caucus of the 2012 race for the Republican nomination.

Maine Texas Congressman Ron Paul has taken a commanding lead over his GOP rivals in the Maine Caucus heading into its final day on Saturday, hoping to extinguish Rick Santorums modest campaign winning streak and launch a comeback of his own in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Keeping an eye on the results, WatchTheVote2012.com reports Ron Pauls lead as having grown into a hefty 15 point margin over Mitt Romney as early returns continue to trickle in. Two of Maines 16 counties thus far, Knox and Aroostook, have concluded their tallies with Ron Paul garnering almost half of the votes. Ron Pauls Libertarian message seems to resonate with the residents of The Pine Tree state as early results show 48% of caucus-goers have circled Ron Pauls name on their ballots, while only 33% have given Romney the nod. Santorum and Gingrich are holding very distant 3rd and 4th places, tallying only 10% and 9% respectively.

Ron Paul is looking for his first win in the 2012 race for the republican nomination and, thus far, Maine is shaping up to be his best chance to get that coveted milestone. A Maine win would also represent his first ever state caucus or primary win in this, his third attempt running for the White House. Not only would winning Maine represent the 4th contest in a row so-called frontrunner Mitt Romney would not win, taking a caucus this early in the season would be a big shot in the arm for Ron Pauls campaign and would go a long way in proving to the American people that he is just as legitimate as any other candidate left in the race.

Source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv? authkey=CKT21ZkH&hl=en_US&key=0AjQBwcCtzwG8dEdGUWZjS1FwTW8wTzVyOE J6dmg4cHc&toomany=true

Rows per page: 250 MAINE CAUCUS 1-16 of 16 --WatchTheV ote2012 Results Go to spreadsheet view Hide colors Maine Totals All Caucuses Androscoggin Aroostook Cumberland Franklin Hancock Kennebec Knox Lincoln Oxford Penobscot Piscataquis Sagadahoc Somerset Waldo Washington York Viewing in simple list mode due to high traffic to this document. OK This is the REAL WatchT heVote 2012 Docum ent. All totals listed are from trusted source s and are verified .

5% 43% 33% 20% 0%

Newt Ron Gingr Paul ich

Mitt Rick Other Total Count Notes Rom Sant Vote y ney orum Totals s COMP LETE or PARTI AL

State Totals:

88

826

634

383

1938

http:// www.m ainegop .com/ 2012/01 /maineg-op-2012caucusinformat ion/

Row County Colu Colu Colu Colu Colu Colu Colum Colum : mn B mn C mn D mn E mn F mn G n H nI

(All) (Blank) Androsc ogginAr oostook Cumberl andFran klinHanc ockKenn ebecKno xLincoln OxfordP enobsco tPiscataq uisSagad ahocSo mersetW aldoWas hington York
1

(All) (Blank ) 01316 17224 45

(All) (Blank ) 01316 20725 26240 66378 8198

(All) (Blank ) 01101 51732 20262 94459 6

(All) (All) (All) (All) (Blank (Blank (Blank (Blank) ) ) ) COMPL 01131 012 ETEp 88232 39467 91

(All) (Blank)

Andro scoggi n Aroost ook Cumbe rland Frankli n Hanco ck Kenne bec Knox Lincol n Oxford

13

262

173

188

COMP LETE COMP LETE p p p p COMP LETE p p

17 16 0 0 2 24 2 0

81 207 16 0 40 98 7 6

26 220 15 0 29 96 5 10

13 91 0 0 6 32 1 0

0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0

10

Penob scot Piscat aquis Sagad ahoc Somer set Waldo Washi ngton York

5 4 0 0 0 0 5

25 13 0 0 8 0 63

10 1 0 0 5 0 44

4 2 0 0 7 0 39

2 0 0 0 2 0 0

p p p p p p p

11

12

13

14 15

16

VIDEO - Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine