Romney announced as winner of Maine caucuses
- Login to post comments
Mike G I think you understand my point is that our state could benefit tremendously from Ron Paul style conservatives serving in Augusta.
So far I have seen little evidence of them wanting to to do that, and I sincerely wonder if it's because those two issues I mentioned would not be in their arena of influence.
I too thought that the PP Poll didn't matter. But now the AP is reporting that Romney won 21 delegates to the national convention. It's ridiculous. It's embarrassing to all Maine Republicans. Just my opinion.
I'm not trying to play "Class Warrior" here, but this is a fact.
If you take the original totals as reported (2190 for Romney and 1996 for Ron Paul) and you throw out some of the wealthiest towns in the state (all suburbs of Portland):
Cape Elizabeth: 80 Romney - 17 Paul
Cumberland: 52 Romney - 17 Paul
Falmouth: 77 Romney - 25 Paul
North Yarmouth: 23 Romney - 3 Paul
Yarmouth: 50 Romney - 14 Paul
If you toss out just those 5 towns, Paul would have won the state by 12 votes (based on the released numbers, anyway).
Should be ANOTHER interesting state convention!
You forgot Kennebunkport which went for Romney big time.
There are about five weeks left in the caucus season. We'll know on March 20 who got the most votes and who the delegates are.
GW Rudmin wrote:
I too thought that the PP Poll didn't matter. But now the AP is reporting that Romney won 21 delegates to the national convention. It's ridiculous. It's embarrassing to all Maine Republicans. Just my opinion.
******
GW - I understand what you mean, believe me. However, if the AP is reporting something like that, it's the AP's fault - not the Maine GOP.
The AP should know we don't choose national delegates until the convention.
Sounds like sloppy reporting, to me.
******
For anyone who hasn't yet seen it, here's the PDF link to the individual caucus straw poll results.
It doesn't matter if Mr. Webster was technically covered by his announcement. Instead of reporting that the poll was inconclusive, he must have known that the headlines would be "Romney wins Maine". This is unfairly stacking the deck, especially with regards to fund raising. I call on the Maine GOP for his immediate removal for this deceptive trick.
Did Mitt Romney steal Maine caucuses from Ron Paul?
The caucus for Washington County, Maine was cancelled Saturday due to the threat of inclement weather. Ron Paul supporters believe that with those votes, Paul could have won the state contest.
By Peter Grier, Staff writer / February 13, 2012
But the real bottom line is this: The presidential preference poll held at Maine caucuses does not matter. It has no influence on the allocation of Maine’s 24 delegates to the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla.
"It doesn't matter if Mr. Webster was technically covered by his announcement. Instead of reporting that the poll was inconclusive, he must have known that the headlines would be "Romney wins Maine". This is unfairly stacking the deck, especially with regards to fund raising. I call on the Maine GOP for his immediate removal for this deceptive trick."
My sentiments, exactly.
You don't rise to the position of state Chair without learning a thing or two about slight of hand. This is no different than the nonsensical comments preceding the IA caucuses from the IA GOP Chair who, by the way, has since been replaced by Ron Paul's IA chief.
Question: who set the dates for the caucuses?
The individual towns made that decision, knowing that if they scheduled their caucus for after 2/11, their straw vote totals wouldn't be included in the announcement of the results to the press on 2/11.
Two illustrations that some Republicans just can't believe that actual Republican, conservative voters would really vote for Mitt Romney:
1) Rumblings that the Maine GOP rigged the straw poll.
2) Santorum suggesting that Romney rigged the CPAC straw poll.
ACU chief answers Santorum's hints at CPAC poll-rigging
“This year, we decided to conduct a scientific national poll of fellow conservatives to coincide with our straw poll. Lo and behold, the outcomes were identical! All four major candidates placed in the same order, with Messrs Romney and Santorum coming in first and second respectively in both! So, one would think the outcomes all made sense. I will leave it at that.”
We are 100% sure that the vote totals are not "true". If we want to build trust we would admit the honest mistake and release accurate numbers.
It is unfortunate a correction was not released today.
Butch Moore: "Do we want to go back to government being controlled and run by democrats?"
Can't speak for anyone but those in my own household, but we want to go back to government being controlled and run by honest people with the interest of the citizenry as their goal.
I don't really care if there is a D or an R appended to someone's name if they are lying to, manipulating, or cheating those they purport to serve.
Waldo County mostly missing from official Maine GOP results
Ron Paul preferred choice among local caucusgoers
…St. Onge said he submitted the results of the Feb. 4 caucuses to the party immediately after the event…
"They had the numbers to count…Why they didn't include them, I don't know the answer to that."
According to figures supplied by St. Onge, Ron Paul came out the winner among the 18 towns that gathered on Feb. 4 with 43 votes, followed by Rick Santorum with 41.
I really dont understand the reason for not counting these votes..........
Why Michigan matters more than Maine in the GOP race
Rick Santorum's populist message is finding favour in Michigan. If he beats Mitt Romney, the delegate arithmetic tilts decisively
Harry J Enten
Tuesday 14 February 2012
...Romney received much-needed good press by winning the Maine caucuses' straw poll on Saturday. The Maine vote...has no direct relationship to delegate selection, was one of...few contests this season where most analysts were unsure...who was going to win.
[J]ust over 5,000 voted in the straw poll, which makes you wonder why the media made any kind of deal out of the contest. ...Romney tended to do worse in rural areas.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/feb/14/michigan-...
Maine GOP sticks with Romney win — for now
By Glenn Adams
Associated Press
February 14, 2012 2:00 AM
State Party Chairman Charlie Webster said Monday that Saturday's caucus results won't be altered at least until the state committee takes up the matter at its March 10 meeting.
Washington County GOP Chairman Chris Gardner said the county's results will be posted after they are counted.
"The fact of the matter is we're going to hold our vote, we're going to announce the results and the media can do its own math," Gardner said.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120214/NEWS/2...
I see no reason the caucus results shouldn't be announced. People can do their own math.
I see no reason why Charlie Webster shouldn't issue updated and corrected results when they become available.
charlie
Agreed, Charlie.
The only thing worse than making a mistake is making one and not admitting it or correcting it.
Charlie Webster, if you want to save the good reputation you have earned, then correct errors and add Washington County's vote as soon as it is in. Otherwise you are playing favorites and the GOP needs a new chairman.
CHAIRMAN WEBSTER MEETS WITH MAINE GOP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
AUGUSTA, ME -Today the Executive Committee of the Maine State Republican Party met to discuss the Presidential Preference Poll results and have approved the following statement from Chairman Charlie Webster.
"We have worked diligently to contact town chairmen throughout Maine to reconfirm the results of their individual caucuses. These totals once confirmed will be posted on the Maine Republican Party Web site.
All Republicans are keenly aware of the intense interest in the results of the Maine Republican Party Presidential Preference Poll. In fact, I have had numerous conversations with Senate President Kevin Raye and Washington County Commissioner Chris Gardner regarding their concerns that the Washington County poll results be included in our final tally. As a result of these conversations I called a meeting of the Executive Committee to discuss this matter.
The results of the Washington County caucus will be reviewed at the March 10 Republican State Committee Meeting. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the State Committee that they include the results in the final tally for the Presidential Preference Poll as their caucus had been scheduled to occur by the February 11 deadline, however it was postponed due to inclement weather. "
-End-
###
What this says to me is the Executive Committee of the Maine State Republican Party supports Romney and the truth and facts of the caucasus be damned. A sorry state of affairs.
charlie
Charlie, how do you get what you just said from this?
"The Executive Committee voted unanimously to recommend to the State Committee that they include the results in the final tally for the Presidential Preference Poll as their caucus had been scheduled to occur by the February 11 deadline..."
The Executive Committee is in CYA Damage Control mode. The damage has been done. Their reaction is too little, too late.
Butch, updates should be made available as the results become known. Not at some date in the future.
charlie
I don't disagree, but that's not what you said.
- Login to post comments
After reviewing the totals, I know of at least one error in my town. I wrote in the name of someone other than Romney, Paul, Santorum or Gingrich - and the totals for "other" in my town show 0. I know for a fact that there was at least one "other" vote, because I cast it.