Romney rallies to win Montana GOP caucus

BILLINGS, Mont., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Mitt Romney rallied to defeat John McCain in the Montana Republican presidential caucuses Tuesday while maverick Ron Paul came in second.

Romney finished with 38.3 percent of the votes cast in 53 counties while McCain slipped from an early lead to 21.9 percent. Paul received 24.5 percent of the vote while Mike Huckabee brought up the rear with 15 percent of the votes.

The Billings Gazette said McCain took an early lead in the caucuses, but faded as more counties reported in.

Montana has 25 delegates. Romney was the only candidate to journey out to the Big Sky to campaign in person.

The Democrats did not hold a caucus in Montana Tuesday.