Maine's got a fee-vah and the only prescription is more Mitt Romney; Update: Mitt banking on McCain-hate for Super Tuesday

McCain had conceded the state but still finished ahead of the rEVOLution, who did campaign there and was hoping to surprise. So it’s two, two, two bits of good news in one.

Romney’s wide victory margin nonetheless surprised some local observers, who had been impressed with the big crowds drawn to campaign events by Paul, the only candidate who personally campaigned in Maine. Paul has developed a core group of fervent supporters around his agenda, which includes a sharp reduction in the size and reach of government and — alone among the Republican presidential contenders — strong opposition to the U.S. military involvement in the Iraq war.

The results are non-binding since it’s only a caucus but it makes for some nice weekend buzz for Mitt, especially since Snowe and Collins both endorsed their fellow “maverick.” Mitt’s coming on strong in Missouri too, although even Huckabee’s in the thick of that one. Exit question: Mittmentum?

Update: Romney 2008: At least he’s not John McCain.

Could work.

Despite John McCain’s building political momentum, Mitt Romney said Saturday he does not expect the Republican presidential nomination to be settled during the coming week and he is planning to continue campaigning beyond Super Tuesday.

The former Massachusetts governor said the number of states up for grabs, his prospects of succeeding in some of the 20-plus GOP contests that day, as well as a growing concern within the Republican Party about conferring the nomination on McCain give him reason to fight on…

Romney also said his campaign has seen an uptick in donations — $345,000 in one day last week versus a typical daily take of $50,000 — as the race has crystallized into a two-man contest between him and McCain.

“I think one of the dynamics that changed is that conservative Republican and mainstream Republicans, all over the country, in the last 48 hours or so, have concentrated on the prospect of Senator McCain being our nominee and are saying, `That’s not the direction we want to go,'” Romney said.