Romney thanks Maine voters _ in a statement

By STEVE PEOPLES

The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Maine — Mitt Romney is thanking Maine voters after the state party chairman declared him the winner of that state.

The former Massachusetts governor issued a statement instead of delivering a speech.

Romney had visited Maine earlier in the day but he wasn't in the state when he was declared the winner. He was on the West coast and was scheduled to attend a fundraiser.

In the statement, he says that Maine voters sent a clear message that it is past time to send an outsider to the White House. And he cast himself as a conservative with a lifetime of private sector experience, who -- in his words -- "can uproot Washington's culture of taxing and spending and borrowing and endless bureaucracy."

___

February 11, 2012 07:06 PM EST

Copyright 2012, The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.