Mitt Romney is back in the spotlight after a three-primary losing streak.
 
With 84 percent of the municipal caucuses reporting, Romney has won the Maine caucuses with 39 percent of the vote, followed by Ron Paul in second place with 36 percent of the vote. The other 16 percent of the caucuses will be held by March 20.
 
Romney’s only active competition in the caucus was Paul, as both Rick Santorum (who received 18 percent of the vote) and Newt Gingrich (who received 6 percent) had chosen not to campaign in the state.  
 
The victory is a welcome boost to Romney’s campaign after his triple defeat to Santorum on Feb. 7, a loss that had some wondering whether Romney was still the indisputable Republican nominee.
 
Romney had won the Maine caucuses in 2008, but his losses in recent primaries had some unsure about his ability to win again in his native New England. The Romney campaign, recognizing the risk, arranged for Romney to visit constituents on voting day. It was the first time that Romney had personally traveled to election sites this campaign cycle and may have provided Romney with the extra support needed to achieve his narrow first-place finish.
 
The victory also came just hours after Romney won the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll with 38 percent of the vote. The win could bolster his standing with conservative members of the GOP, many of whom still believe his social values are too moderate.
 
Paul was hoping to win the caucus after losing eight consecutive primaries, expressing that a victory in Maine would give his campaign some much-needed momentum. It seemed as though Paul’s hopes would be fulfilled, until Romney increased his campaigning in the state. Paul’s chances of winning subsequently declined.
 
The specific allocation of Maine’s 24 delegates will be determined in May.
 
Follow The Red and the Blue on Twitter: @redandblueDP.