Starting today, and lasting through Sunday, Maine holds it’s Republican caucuses and Ron Paul may well pull of a surprise there:
AUGUSTA — With highly motivated supporters and a natural appeal to a mass of like-minded independents, Ron Paul has promising prospects in this weekend’s Maine Republican caucuses, party officials and other observers say.
Maine’s GOP polling today, Saturday and Sunday may give the Texas congressman his best shot at winning a state, which would be big, coming just days before Tuesday’s presidential preference contests in more than 20 states.
It doesn’t hurt that Paul’s visit this week made him the only presidential candidate from either party to visit Maine before the caucuses.
“I think that (because) he’s paid attention to Maine, he’ll be rewarded,” said R. Kenneth Lindell, Paul’s campaign coordinator in Maine.
(…)
Paul’s campaign has drawn a mix of young voters who are just getting involved in politics, longtime Republicans who have libertarian leanings or are unhappy with the party’s direction, and independents who have left the party, said Lindell.
On one level I wouldn’t be surprised if Paul does well in Maine. It’s not just because he’s the only candidate who has spent time there, but also because these are caucuses as opposed to a primary. Paul has done better in caucuses (Iowa and Nevada for example) than in primaries (New Hampshire and Florida).
The main reason for this is that caucuses typically have smaller turnout than a primary, which tends to help candidates who have a core group of committed supporters, which Paul most certainly does. A win, or even a second place showing, would be good press for the campaign going in to Super Tuesday but is unlikely to translate into anything significant.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Lets go for the win. Maine is Sane - Ron Paul 2008
February 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
He surprised alright. Surprised everyone with a piss-poor 3rd place finish. He ended up with 19%. Romney crushed him with 52%.
Paul was virtually the only candidate to campaign in the State.
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:55 am
[...] much for the Ron Paul surprise, I guess. [...]
February 14th, 2008 at 12:27 am
With Mitt out now the focus changes in Maine to delegates. Here is one who has come out to say no to the liberal spending.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bdc5yOacuf4