Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses [VIDEO]

Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster says Mitt Romney has won the Maine caucuses by a slim margin, giving him a much needed boost following losses in three other contests in the past week.

The former Massachusetts governor defeated Ron Paul, the only other GOP hopeful competing in the state. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich did not actively participate in the contest.

Party leaders announced the results Saturday. The caucuses began February 4 and continued through the week. Some Maine communities have yet to hold their caucuses, though party leaders say they don’t plan to count those votes.

Romney easily won the Maine caucuses in 2008.

Maine has 24 delegates to the party’s national convention — 21 of them were at stake in a process that began with the caucuses.

Romney thanks Maine voters — in a statement

Mitt Romney is thanking Maine voters after the state party chairman declared him the winner of that state.

The former Massachusetts governor issued a statement instead of delivering a speech.

Romney had visited Maine earlier in the day but he wasn’t in the state when he was declared the winner. He was on the West Coast and was scheduled to attend a fundraiser.

In the statement, he says that Maine voters sent a clear message that it is past time to send an outsider to the White House. And he cast himself as a conservative with a lifetime of private sector experience, who — in his words — “can uproot Washington’s culture of taxing and spending and borrowing and endless bureaucracy.”

Paul says Maine outcome is virtual tie

Republican presidential contender Ron Paul says he wishes all the Maine caucuses would have met on Saturday.

The Maine GOP chairman declared rival Mitt Romney the victor in Maine even though several places in the state won’t hold their caucuses until next weekend.

Paul is addressing his supporters in Maine and telling them not to be discouraged. He says the momentum behind his candidacy will continue and he’s pledging not to go away. He also says — in his words — that the revolution continues.

The Texas congressman is calling the outcome a virtual tie, noting that he lost by a narrow margin and some caucuses weren’t included in the count.

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