It's Romney v. Paul in Maine (Politico)

With the spotlight on Nevada, most people have probably forgotten that Maine?s caucuses also begin today.

Most of the state?s caucuses will be held on Saturday, but they continue this week and the results won?t be announced until Feb. 11. Delegates won?t actually be awarded, however, until the state convention in May.

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Up until this point, Ron Paul is the only GOP contender to have visited the state this cycle. Paul and Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who won the state four years ago, are considered the heavy favorites.

Maine Republicans say it?s a two-man race between Paul and Romney, one Romney is likely to win even though he has not yet personally visited the state in this presidential race.

Charlie Webster, the chair of the Maine Republican Party, said Romney is an established brand in Maine, his good reputation buttressed by his tenure as governor of nearby Massachusetts. He has also fundraised for the state GOP.

?Romney?s been here a lot. He was here during the last election cycle. He?s worked for the congressional candidates?he?s been around,? Webster said. ?He actually has been here a lot ? not in this cycle ? but he?s pretty well known here.?

Romney, Webster said, ?laid the foundation? early for a strong Maine showing, estimating that the two-time presidential candidate has visited the state more than 10 times since 2006.

While Romney hasn?t been to Maine personally, his wife, Ann, held a fundraiser for her husband?s campaign in South Portland in the fall. The host committee for the event included a list of influential Maine politicos, including former state Senate President Richard Bennett, former Ambassador Peter Cianchette and former Rep. Dave Emery.

But Paul is attempting to better his third-place showing in Maine from 2008. His strategy is a laser-like focus on the caucus states that award delegates proportionally, allowing him to amass delegates even if he doesn?t finish first in a race.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/politics/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/politico_rss/rss_politico_mostpop/http___www_politico_com_news_stories0212_72452_html/44416273/SIG=11mj23pp3/*http%3A//www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72452.html

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