BREAKDOWN OF RESULTS FOR ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY

Mitt Romney – 139

Ron Paul – 71

John McCain – 33

Mike Huckabee – 19

Undecided – 2

TOTAL – 264

BREAKDOWN OF RESULTS BY TOWN

Auburn

Mitt Romney – 35

Ron Paul – 13

John McCain – 8

Mike Huckabee – 4

Lewiston

Mitt Romney – 30

Ron Paul – 18

John McCain – 16

Mike Huckabee – 4

Lisbon

Mitt Romney – 12

Ron Paul – 16

John McCain – 1

Mike Huckabee – 5

Livermore

Mitt Romney – 3

Mike Huckabee – 1

Mechanic Falls

Mitt Romney – 12

Ron Paul – 3

John McCain – 1

Poland

Mitt Romney – 18

Ron Paul – 11

John McCain – 3

Sabbatus

Mitt Romney – 11

Ron Paul – 1

Turner

Mitt Romney – 9

Ron Paul – 2

John McCain – 1

Mike Huckabee – 4

Wales

Mitt Romney – 3

Ron Paul – 3

John McCain – 1

Mike Huckabee – 1

LEWISTON – They came bearing posters, pins, pamphlets and – most important to state and local GOP leaders – passion for their candidates.

The Lewiston Multi-Purpose Center’s crammed cafeteria was standing room only for nearly 300 people of all ages and backgrounds from across Androscoggin County who gathered to show their support for their favorite presidential candidates.

And in the end, Mitt Romney took the county by storm in the presidential preference poll with nearly twice as many votes as his closest competitor, Ron Paul. Romney won 139 of the 264 votes cast by residents of the nine towns that caucused Saturday.

Two towns, Durham and Greene, did not caucus this weekend, according to Maine Republican Party representatives. Both towns have until sometime in March to complete the process, but will not be part of this weekend’s presidential preference poll.

“I think that Mitt Romney has a well-rounded platform,” said Gina Mason, 48, of Lisbon Falls. “He has a lot of good conservative views. I think he’s proven himself as a leader.”

Second place went to Ron Paul with 71 votes, followed by John McCain with 33 votes and Mike Huckabee with 19 votes.

Romney’s son, Tagg, spoke to the crowd on his father’s behalf prior to the individual town caucuses.

“In the past, I more or less agreed with whoever got the nomination,” said Rev. Stan Proctor, 71, of Sabbatus. “We need somebody strong enough to bring us back together.”

Proctor and his wife were among the hundreds who came out early Saturday morning to listen to speeches and ask questions of presidential candidate representatives prior to the meeting breaking into town sessions. He quipped that Saturday’s political caucus presence was actually his first since Pat Robertson ran for president in 1988.

Sabbatus resident Scott Kauffman, chair of the Androscoggin County Republican Party, was more than pleased with the strong showing of diverse and excited Republicans. He added that Saturday’s caucus drew more than three times the number of participants than previous ones.

“I think people want to know that they have a part to play in the political process,” said Kauffman, who also serves as vice chairman of the Maine Republican Party. “If people can bring that passion to the party as an activist, then we can win.”

Passion was not something the crowded cafeteria lacked as presidential candidate representatives took to the podium. In addition to the presidential preference poll, the Republican caucuses held statewide this weekend also elected delegates to the Republican State Convention in May. Kauffman explained that this weekend would be the only time that Maine Republicans had an opportunity to make their preference known with regards to presidential candidates.

Those residents who showed up from Durham were surprised to learn that their town wasn’t caucusing this weekend.

“Strategically speaking, we’re hoping to collect enough delegates that they have to listen to the real right-wing conservatives,” said Charlie Bowen, 33, of Durham, one of dozens of Ron Paul supporters in attendance. He was also among several Durham residents who had no idea their town wouldn’t officially be holding a caucus.

Dot Doiron, 46, a mother of two from Turner who spoke on behalf of her presidential favorite, Mike Huckabee, told the audience that she wanted to correct the “mainstream media” and remind them that there are more than two candidates in the race. She stressed Huckabee’s strong stands for family values and his promise to reform the IRS.

Some candidates drew support from high places as U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe took to the podium in support of John McCain. To her, McCain represents a new standard for the GOP – a standard promising courage, conscience, character and candor.

“We need courage in Washington,” Snowe said. “And John McCain has displayed nothing but courage his entire life. He challenges the status quo and we need someone willing to challenge the status quo.”

While she supports McCain as the candidate of choice, Snowe stressed that Republicans across the state need to rally around whomever the eventual nominee turns out to be and do that through strong grassroots efforts.

Tempers flared a bit here and there as many tried to jostle for air time for their favorite candidate, and at least one comment was met by applause from all sides of the room.

“There’s a freight train coming at this nation and it’s called Clinton in the White House for another four years,” said Lewiston City Councilman Stavros Mendros as he rallied the crowd.