Ron Paul Wins Postponed Caucus in Maine County, Still Behind Romney Statewide

(The Blaze/AP) -- Ron Paul has gained 83 votes on Mitt Romney following a Republican presidential caucus in eastern Maine, where voting last week had been postponed due to bad weather. Romney still holds a 156-vote lead over Paul in statewide totals.

Paul received 163 votes in Saturday's Washington County caucus, where Republicans from more than two dozen towns gathered to cast their votes. Romney received 80 votes. Rick Santorum got 57 votes and Newt Gingrich received four votes.

The Maine Republican Party last week declared Romney the winner of the state's GOP caucuses, but Washington County Republicans were angered their votes weren't counted after their caucus was postponed last Saturday because of a snowstorm.

County Chairman Chris Gardner says the state party should include the caucus tally in the final results.

The Republican State Committee will consider the request next month.

The Bangor Daily News notes that results are still outstanding for six towns in Hancock County that also caucused Saturday afternoon, and the town of Castine will caucus March 3. The New York Times reports that Maine GOP Chairman Charlie Webster has announced that the party will review its numbers, and will not declare a final winner until March 10.