Everett, Wash.
Published: Monday, February 11, 2008

Obama wins Maine caucuses

Associated Press

 AUGUSTA, Maine -- Barack Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in Maine presidential caucuses Sunday, grabbing a majority of delegates as the state's Democrats overlooked the snowy weather and turned out in heavy numbers for municipal gatherings.

With 99 percent of the participating precincts reporting, Obama led in state delegates elected over Clinton, 2,079 to 1,396, with 18 uncommitted.

The Illinois senator exulted in his recent victories in Maine and elsewhere, telling a crowd of 18,000 Sunday evening in Virginia Beach, Va., that "we have won on the Atlantic Coast, we have won on the Gulf Coast, we have won on the Pacific Coast" and places in between.

Obama won 15 of Maine's delegates to the national convention, and Clinton won nine. In the overall race for the nomination, Clinton leads with 1,136, including separately chosen party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Obama has 1,108.

Though Maine's national delegate count is small, Clinton and Obama, along with surrogates, came to the state Saturday as their campaigns drew tighter after Super Tuesday.

Sunday's voting came a day after Obama picked up wins in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state.

Also Sunday, Clinton replaced campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle with longtime aide Maggie Williams. Campaign aides said Solis Doyle made the decision to leave on her own and was not urged to do so by the former first lady or any other senior member of the team. Solis Doyle said she will serve as a senior adviser to the campaign.

Clinton's campaign acknowledged that she made a private visit to North Carolina last week to seek the endorsement of former rival John Edwards. Her rival Barack Obama was planning his own meeting today with Edwards, who confidants said was torn over which candidate to back.

Next up

TUESDAY

Maryland primaries

At stake: 70 Democratic delegates; 37 Republican delegates

Virginia primaries

At stake: 83 Democratic delegates; 63 Republican delegates

District of Columbia primaries

At stake: 15 Democratic delegates; 16 Republican delegates
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA