WASHINGTON — According to a recount by the state Republican party, Mitt Romney has increased his lead over Ron Paul to 239 votes in the Maine Republican caucuses.

But the new results likely won't quell the outrage or suspicion that has engulfed the Maine GOP since Saturday because so many questions still remain.

On Saturday, Mitt Romney was declared the winner, beating Ron Paul by 194 votes out of 5,585 cast, according to the state GOP. But the numbers did not include the vote totals from several communities, including Waterville and much of Waldo County, because of computer or clerical errors, Maine GOP chairman Charlie Webster said.

Other communities' vote totals were entered incorrectly, he said, and Washington County's caucuses weren't included in the original totals after being postponed until this Saturday because of a snowstorm.

Webster said they've now added up all the votes from Maine except from Washington County, but the new numbers will likely only increase suspicion among Paul's supporters and Webster's detractors.

It turns out Paul won many of the communities that hadn't previously been counted. Paul beat Romney 21 to 5 in Waterville, according to the new GOP data.

Paul also beat Romney 72 to 59 in Waldo County. But the vote tallies were revised enough in other towns to add to Romney's lead (wtf?), according to the new data.

In Limington, Paul originally received 20 votes. But after the recount, Paul received zero votes. In Portland, Paul originally beat Romney 106-91. But after the recount, Romney beat Paul 106-91.

In Bar Harbor, the GOP originally said 22 people voted. But after the recount, it said 27 voted and the five extra votes went to Romney.

In Trenton, the GOP originally said 15 people voted. But after the recount, it said 20 voted and all five extra votes went to Romney.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120218/NEWS0605/702199989