Maine Caucus: Ron Paul Might Actually Win a State

Unpredictable low-turnout contest favors Paul's unconventional campaign
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 10, 2012 12:23 PM CST
Maine Caucus: Ron Paul Might Actually Win a State
Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, speaks to supporters during his caucus night party Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, in Golden Valley, Minn.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Tomorrow might be the day Ron Paul supporters have been waiting for: the day the Texas libertarian actually wins a state. Of course, that state would be Maine, which is holding a non-binding caucus that's expected to draw only a few thousand people, but it would still represent a milestone for Paul—and it would be Mitt Romney's fourth straight loss. While Romney won big in the state in 2008, turnout is so low that enthusiasm is all-important, the Washington Post reasons, and Paul supporters are an enthusiastic bunch.

Maine's caucuses have actually been going on all week, with results to be released tomorrow. The events are tiny—one was held in a party activist's house—and turnout may be even lower than the 5,430 who came out in 2008. It's not a contest Romney's monetary edge can swing. "You can't poll it, you can't win it with a barrage of negative ads, and it isn't even really an election," writes Chris Stirewalt of Fox News. Another plus for Paul: Previously unregistered or unaffiliated voters can register as Republicans at the polls to vote for him, ABC News points out. (More Maine stories.)

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