Romney Wins Maine in Weekend Vote

Mitt Romney won the Maine caucuses over the weekend. It was a landslide for Romney, (52% over John McCain’s 21%.) however it seems that because of the media attention on the Super Bowl and Super Tuesday, it was lost. Almost like every other Romney win.

So far Romney has captured 18 delegates.

Total Republican Delegation standings going into Super Tuesday is:

• McCain: 97
• Romney: 92
• Huckabee: 29
• Paul: 6

I have been digging and digging, but no gold for finding a video I can actually embed here. So I leave you with Romney’s statements in the written word. Because we should all read a little bit more.

Part of me would love to tag cloud this statement. How many times do you need to say Washington, when that is the place you wish to visit the most? Okay, so they all say it, whatever. Political semantics.

“Today, the people of Maine joined those from across the nation in casting their vote for conservative change in Washington. All across the state, men and women gathered to help chart the future course of our country. Tonight, they have made their voice known and have endorsed our conservative vision for a stronger America. Like many Americans, the people of Maine are tired of Washington promises made but broken”

“The need for change in Washington is even more apparent today. With our economy facing uncertain times, we need a leader who actually understands how the economy works and how jobs are created. We also need a leader from outside of Washington who is ready to meet the long-term challenges facing our country. With a career spent working in the economy, creating jobs, turning around faltering institutions and imposing fiscal discipline, I am ready to bring conservative change to Washington. In this campaign, I am proud to have the support of the people of Maine.”

Super Tuesday Predictions- Republicans

Now I am not as familiar with the Republican delegation system as I am with the democrats one, but I think I am getting it down. I think the most important thing to remember about the republican delegation is that some states are winner take all, which can make it as messy as the democrats super-delegate thing.

• First magic numbers- Republicans need 1,191 delegates to get nomination. Super Tuesday there is 1,020 up for grabs. 15 primaries and 6 caucuses.

So, like in my other entry on the Democrats, we will start with the most highly contested states.

California: With the most delegates up for grabs it is also the most coveted because it is a winner take all state. It has 173 delegates up for grabs. It seems that McCain is pulling ahead, but I think that in economically conservative districts like San Diego County, Romney will be more likely to pick up votes there. I don’t think Huckabee will have a great showing, but Paul has some great grassroots supports still going. I will however put my money on a slit win for McCain over Romney with Paul in third and Huckabee falling into last.

New York: With 101 winner take all delegates at stake this is also a hot state on the list. Also the fact that Rudy Guliani is out gives John McCain the upper hand with his endorsement. Also Romney’s money and being from a neighboring state helps. It seems like the same situation in California. I believe McCain will take the Empire State.

Georgia: Huckabee will have a better showing in this this southern evangelical state. I believe he will edge out McCain, but since it isn’t a winner take all, Huckabee won’t obtain all 72 delegates.

Illinois: The 70 delegates up for grabs are probably going to be split between Romney and McCain. Though I will call this for Romney, but very narrowly.

Missouri: Another highly evangelical state, but has a rather different conservative base and McCain is gaining momentum. Of course 58 will go to a single winner, but I see a narrow win for McCain over Huckabee and Romney.

Other states, that have less delegates, but are still very important. WTA stands for Winner Take All in my little list.

Tennessee: 55 delegates, three person showing (Go to Huckabee)

Arizona: 53 WTA (McCain, Landslide, home state)

New Jersey: 52 WTA (Romney)

Alabama: 48 (Huckabee over McCain narrowly)

Colorado: 46 (Romney)

Massachusetts: 43 (Romney, but McCain is making a play for moderates)

Minnesota: 41 (McCain)

Oklahoma: 41 (Tossup, but I say Huckabee slight over McCain)

Utah: 36 WTA (Romney, Mormons love this guy)

Arkansas: 34 (Huckabee)

Connecticut: 30 WTA (Romney just over McCain)

Alaska: 29 (Romney, the man with the money, Paul comes in second)

North Dakota: 26 WTA (Romney, Nevada and Wyoming wins help)

Montana: 25 WTA (Romney, Nevada and Wyoming wins also help here)

Delaware: 18 WTA (McCain just ahead of Romney)

West Virginia: 18 WTA (Romney just takes out Huckabee)

I also believe because of the number of delegates and all of the winner take all states that Super Tuesday is more likely to get a result for the republican nomination. McCain is way ahead in the current delegate total.

Going into Super Tuesday this is the total, though as a I write this Maine totals are getting doweled out.

McCain leads with 97 delegates, with three states won and all were the last three whih is tremendous momentum.

Romney is not far behind at all with 74 delegates. He has three wins, but two were not very competitive. Which did nothing for that thing people call momentum.

Huckabee is a bit behind with 29 and only 1 win. He will make a good showing in the south though, just were it is needed.

Paul is back further with 6 delegates and no current wins. Sorry Paul supports, he is dropping out after Super Tuesday.

McCain Now Considered Front-Runner

After his win over Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee, John McCain has forged ahead as the new Republican front-runner. It is yet to be seen if this will hold over for next weeks Super Tuesday primaries. With Giuliani out and Ron Paul not getting the vote that his internet supporters had wished for, it is now a three man race for the Republican nomination.

Of course in my humble opinion, McCain will be harder to beat in the national election, especially if the Democratic nominee is Clinton. Yet I think many people in the Republican establishment hate McCain. He voting record in in step with the Bush Administration, yet there are some issues in which he has become a rogue Senator. That and the fact that he has good democratic friends within the Senate and that makes some hardcore Neo-cons very irritated.

Yet he can get some good bipartisan support with voters. I think that his win in New Hampshire was a good indication of his appeal with independent, issues votes. Though I must note that the democrats did receive over 50,000 more votes in the NH primary than the their Republican counterparts.

I also believe that the media attention that Huckabee soaked up after the Iowa caucuses is fading fast. I believe that Super Tuesday may not do him well, except in smaller rural states like Kansas and Oklahoma, which have solid evangelical bases. Though it is the delegate count that seems to be hitting Huckabee at the moment. It was winner takes all in Florida, so Romney and Hucabee are really at a lose for this primary.

The Republican Delegate Numbers Stand At:

• McCain- 95
• Romney- 67
• Huckabee- 26
• Paul- 6
• Giuliani- 1

Now without further ado:

Speech, Speech, Speech