stuck in the mittle

Romney’s Supposed Victory in Maine Caucuses in Jeopardy

SPARKS, NV - FEBRUARY 03: Former Massachusetts Gov. and republican candidate for president Mitt Romney looks on during a business roundtable at Western Nevada Supply on February 3, 2012 in Sparks, Nevada. With one day to go before the Nevada Caucus, Mitt Romney is campaigning through the state. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Thanks, Maine. Photo: Justin Sullivan/2012 Getty Images

Maine screwed up. In the state’s nonbinding caucuses last week, contested by only Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, Romney was declared the victor by a narrow 39 to 36 margin, which amounted to a difference of only 194 votes.

But now the state party has decided to include results from Washington County, which will vote this Saturday. And oh by the way, results from caucuses in other counties, mainly Waldo County (where?), weren’t counted either. The state party will factor those results into its retabulation.

Granted, Maine’s delegates are nonbinding, but the supposed Romney win at least halted Santorum’s win streak in three other states that did not award binding delegates. But the wins did plenty for Santorum’s momentum.

Romney has been the winner-turned-loser in this script before. He won Iowa by a scant eight votes, only to be declared the runner-up to Santorum a week later.

Romney’s Supposed Victory in Maine Caucuses in Jeopardy