Republicans in the northeastern U.S. state of Maine wrap up voting
Saturday for the candidate they hope to see take on President Barack
Obama in November.
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is hoping for a strong showing
in the Maine caucuses after losses in three states this week. The Maine
contest appears to be a two-man race between Romney and Texas
Congressman Ron Paul, with both men visiting a caucus site in the state
Saturday in a final push for support. The results will be announced
Saturday night.
Tuesday's contests in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado were all
victories for former U.S. senator Rick Santorum.
The
losses to social conservative Santorum highlighted Romney's struggle to
gain the support of the conservative Republican base. On Friday, he
worked to change that, calling himself “severely conservative” in a
speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee's annual
conference.
Santorum and former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich also
addressed the gathering, while Paul did not appear.
After Maine, the four presidential contenders face the February 28
primaries in Arizona and Michigan — the state where Romney was born and
raised.
