MAINE ELECTS 22 DELEGATES FOR BUSH

Maine Republicans awarded President Bush 22 national convention delegates Saturday, a vote officials said assured the state's longtime summer resident of winning the GOP's presidential nomination.

The election of delegates came at the end of the two-day Maine Republican convention, and was based on the results of the state's February presidential caucuses, in which Bush beat rival Patrick Buchanan.

Bush was also expected to win seven delegates Saturday in Wyoming's Republican convention, bringing his total delegate count to at least 1,022. Bush needed 1,005 delegates to win the renomination, according to Republican officials.

Gov. John McKernan told the convention that Maine could claim credit for assuring the president's renomination because its delegates were selected before Wyoming held its vote.

Bush has vacationed in Kennebunkport, Maine, since boyhood.