Paul Campaign Challenges Romney's Maine Win

(Wall Street Journal) - EAST MACHIAS, Maine -- Mitt Romney's squeaker victory in Maine's Republican presidential caucuses is being challenged by Ron Paul, who has fixed the spotlight on a remote rural county of the sparsely populated state.

Anticipating inclement weather, Republican officials in Maine's Washington County postponed their Saturday caucus for a week. But state party officials said those belated votes will not be allowed to change the outcome they announced Saturday night -- that Romney had won a statewide straw poll by 194 votes over Paul.

Washington County Republicans have rescheduled the caucus for next Saturday in East Machias, which could become a mecca for aggrieved Ron Paul supporters who believe the county could provide him the margin of victory.

The county's Republican chairman, Chris Gardner, has petitioned the state GOP to factor in their votes. The state party committee will consider the request at its next meeting March 10, said Michael Quantrano, executive director of the Maine Republican Party.

In the meantime, Paul's supporters from around the country are flooding the Maine GOP office with complaints and accusations that Paul's defeat was rigged.

The Maine imbroglio began Friday when forecasts of a snowstorm led Gardner to survey county caucus leaders and decide to postpone their Saturday meeting rather than force voters to risk hazardous travel. He did not realize that delay would mean their votes would be rendered meaningless under state party rules requiring results to be reported by Saturday evening.

Paul claims he might have narrowed the 194-vote gap if Washington County's votes had been cast and counted. His campaign voiced incredulity at the claim that the county's Republicans could not have braved a snowstorm to vote.

"This is MAINE we're talking about," John Tate, Paul's campaign manager, said in a statement.

The National Weather Service said that about 5.5 inches of snow fell in the East Machias area over the weekend.

Gardner, a Romney supporter, flatly denied any political motive, and underscored that road conditions were so hazardous that a significant traffic accident occurred just a tenth of a mile from the caucus site.

"We are Mainers, which means we are not stupid," Gardner said. "We know enough not to be out in the snow unless we have to be."

Gardner filed a request Monday for the state Republican Party to count the results of next Saturday's caucus -- even though it could undercut the victory margin for his own preferred candidate.

Asked the prospects for a Paul victory next Saturday. Gardner said it was "improbable" but unpredictable because Paul's supporters may be energized to turn out in large numbers.

"It is all a matter of turnout," he said.

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