County in Maine wants presidential votes included
(CNN) – The Maine caucus presidential vote is non-binding in terms of delegates, but some local Republicans are upset the state party is not including their votes in its total count.
Washington County's 47 towns were set to caucus on the same day as much of Maine last Saturday, but town party officials pushed back the vote a week due to snow.
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State law requires caucuses be held by March 20, though to be relevant in this election cycle, Maine GOP officials suggested local caucuses be held between Feb. 4 and 11. Presidential votes held after Feb. 11 would not be included in the official, non-binding tally released to reporters, as the numbers were announced at a party that evening.
State party officials called the "beauty contest" for Mitt Romney, but Ron Paul argued the missing county could have changed the race.
The state party chair, Charles Webster, thinks that outcome is unlikely; of the 113 votes in Washington County last cycle, he said eight went for Paul.
Regardless of who might benefit, county party chair Chris Gardner said he consulted state GOP officials about the date change and they did not tell him that his region's presidential vote would not matter.
We "were not led to believe by any stretch of the imagination that our votes would not be included," Gardner told CNN.
Gardner said he understands the state party's position, but would like to see an updated vote released.
"I think the state party was well intentioned in bringing some media attention," he said, but "some of the decisions they made around it, I don't agree with."
His neighboring counterpart agrees. Hayes Gahagan, chair of the Aroostook County Republican Committee, acknowledged that the window for inclusion was "really clear" to caucus chairs, but said he supports Washington's desire to be included due to their "legitimate" snow day.
"I told Charlie I think those votes ought to count," he said of state chair Webster.
Webster said the decision is out of his hands and up to the state party committee, which may consider amending the results.
Almost 200 towns are not included in the totals released Saturday, including the 47 towns of Washington County, others which chose not to caucus, and some not represented due to "clerical errors."
The Maine caucus conundrum is the latest in a series of post-caucus confusion. After calling the race for Romney, then for Rick Santorum, and finally issuing a statement to "clarify" Santorum's win, the Iowa GOP was still missing certified results from eight precincts.
In Nevada, a "trouble box" contained more ballots than the number of checked-in voters.
Maine's delegation to the Republican convention will be nominated and elected this spring.
Also see:
Gingrich: Santorum 'misunderstands' modern warfare
Santorum slams Obama administration as 'elite snobs'
Romney surrogates attack Santorum's record
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Here again GOP establishment fail to count all votes
The national media is finally paying attention to the Republican shenanigans here in Maine. Pepe LePieu, our 39% governor who thinks he's Napoleon, hasn't gotten a mention south of Kittery though hetold the NAACP to kiss his butt, said BPA will just give wimmin a little beard, called all those who disagree idiots and telling his own party leaders they've abdicated their duty by not cutting 65000 needy from Medicaid to pay for a tax cut for the wealthiest.
But Charlie Webster did it – he got us noticed. Yaaay Charlie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This caucus was rigged by Romney's henchmen. Ron Paul won.
Fight hard MAINE!! Romney bought the caucus. THREE entire counties not counted for? unacceptable! and by the end of this, Ron Paul will win Maine! exactly as the Romney camp fears.
It appears Mittens lost Maine as well.
blatant fraud. disgusting.
Forget it. The Republican fringe has control of the primary – as evidenced by the poor turnout in other states. Rational Republicans have walked away from this election, repulsed by the poor candidates provided by this ridiculous Republican Primary.
If that means giving Ron Paul the win and it being the truth, then let it be so. I don't want Romney to get a win dishonestly. Ron Paul deserves a win because he should know that he'll never win the nomination. The supporters never come out enough to get more than this.
In Maine its the Poliburo that controls matters... Or maybe its just Republicanism dictatorship..?
The dirty tricks GOBP stole Ron Paul 's first victory from him in Maine. It's 2000 and 2004 again. So far Charlie White, a GOBP wingnut ,is the only person convicted of election fraud not ACORN. Where are all of the Ron Paulbots?
►County in Maine wants presidential votes included◄
The Republican – The MASTERS of voter fraud – actually eluded
From an entire county's votes because that would put Paul "up-front"
What a bunch of cheaters – liars – the entire Republican bunch!
Obama 2012!
Ron Paul got screwed by the pro-Rmoney GOBP political machine in Maine. Do the research online and it's quite obvious how Rmoney gamed his phony "victory" at Paul's expense. This will ultimately go down as yet another state Rmoney lost.