AUGUSTA – The Maine Democratic Party released official caucus results Tuesday, showing 98 percent of the delegates apportioned to the state convention. Those results, indicating Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in the lead with 47 percent, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean with 27, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich at 14, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards at 7 percent and retired Gen. Wesley Clark with 4 percent, are not expected to change.

With a large number of towns participating, the caucus process was new to many and caused some delays in getting results, according to Dottie Melanson, chairwoman of the Maine Democratic Party.

“Towns held caucuses that have not participated in this process in a very long time, if ever,” Melanson said. There’s a lot to keep track of – tally sheets, caucus forms, doing the apportionment math correctly – and caucus conveners have worked to make sure they have the right information to give the party.”

Party officials have been in contact with the remaining towns and are accepting those results.

“As for the remaining towns, we are looking at very small numbers. The remaining towns will not affect the state delegate tally in any significant way,” Melanson said.

Of the remaining 19 towns, 13 have only one delegate.