A blog for The Chronicle to cover the 2008 presidential election, of which Hofstra University plays a unique part as host of one of the presidential debates. Students will cover the election in real time.

February 2, 2008

Romney declares victory in Maine GOP caucuses

By Samuel Rubenfeld
News Editor

Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) declared victory Saturday night in the lightly contested Republican caucuses in Maine. With 64 percent of precincts reporting, Romney had 52 percent of the vote, with Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) coming in second with 22 percent of the vote, and Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.) placing third with 19 percent of the vote.

The Maine caucuses awarded no delegates however, the vote was instead nothing more than a preference poll, with voters choosing participants to the state party's nominating convention in May. But the results themselves could represent some momentum for the former Massachusetts governor going into Super Tuesday.

Paul was the only candidate to actively campaign in Maine; Romney sent one of his sons to spend two days in the state during the leadup to the caucuses.

"Today, the people from Maine joined those from across the nation in casting their vote for conservative change in Washington," Romney said in a statement released before 8 p.m., as the results came in. "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."

In other campaign news: McCain was declared the official winner of the contested Louisiana caucuses held Jan. 22. The Paul campaign had demanded a recount, due to alleged mistakes in ballot distribution by the Louisiana GOP.

McCain rally in Westbury


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

(All photos by Jacqueline Hlavenka/The Chronicle)

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