Sunday, August 19, 2007

NEWSFLASH: RON PAUL WINS ALABAMA STRAW POLL


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: August 19, 2007
CONTACT: Matt Chancey



TUSCALOOSA, Al. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas walked away with a surprising victory at an Alabama Republican Straw Poll in Tuscaloosa today, picking up 216 votes out of the 266 cast (81%). The straw poll, sponsored by the West Alabama Republican Assembly, was open to all Alabamians of voting age. Voters from all corners of the state attended the event held at the Bryant Conference Center.


“This event was open to all Republican Presidential Candidates,” said DeWayne Fowler, President of the West Alabama Republican Assembly. “All campaigns were contacted. And Ron Paul’s campaign clearly wins the award for most grassroots enthusiasm.”


Mitt Romney’s campaign picked up 14 votes (5%), and Duncan Hunter came in third at 10 votes (4%).


Fowler emphasized that the Republican Assembly was not endorsing candidates, but the poll represented the choice of those attending the straw poll. “In addition to Ron Paul, we had representatives from Mitt Romney’s campaign, as well as Fred Thompson, Mike Huckabee and a surprise showing, via conference call from Duncan Hunter.”


“This was clearly a victory for Ron Paul’s organization,” said Matt Chancey, President of the Alabama Republican Assembly. “This event was an opportunity for campaigns to flex their grassroots muscle. No one paid these people to show up. No major network advertised this event. The people who showed up today wanted to be here.”


The Alabama Republican Assembly is affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Assemblies, a membership-based organization that prides itself as being the “Republican Wing of the Republican Party.” “We’re strong, limited government, Ronald Reagan conservatives,” said Fowler, who says his group hopes to host more straw polls in the future. “We hope that in future elections, we’ll attract as much attention as the Iowa straw poll.”


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Saturday, August 11, 2007

Iowa Straw Poll Results

1. Mitt Romney: 4,516 (31.6%)
2. Mike Huckabee: 2,587 (18.1%)
3. Sam Brownback: 2,192 (15.3%)
4. Tom Tancredo: 1,960 (13.7%)
5. Ron Paul: 1,305 (9.1%)
6. Tommy Thompson: 1,039 (7.3%)
7. Fred Thompson: 203 (1.4%)
8. Rudy Giuliani: 183 (1.3%)
9. Duncan Hunter: 174 (1.2%)
10. John McCain: 101 (0.7%)
11. John Cox 41: (0.3%)

Friday, August 10, 2007

Hunter tops Thompson-- misses NFRA endorsement by 2%


(St. Louis, MO) The National Federation of Republican Assemblies, who calls themselves the "Republican Wing of the Republican Party," held a straw poll at its convention in St. Louis last weekend and California Congressman Duncan Hunter exceeded all expectations. Hunter missed receiving the official endorsement of the Assemblies by a couple of percentage points. After seven rounds of voting by the endorsement committee of the organization, Hunter received 64.8 percent of the balloting, less than two percent of the two thirds vote needed. After seven ballots, Fred Thompson was the only other candidate considered.

After the general Assemblies vote, convention delegates were charged with making a formal endorsement of one candidate. Their rules required that the delegates cast their votes while in session for candidates that they wish to endorse. Only candidates receiving more than 15% of the delegate's votes in the first round of voting in the second session were considered for endorsement. After that vote, only Hunter and Fred Thompson received more than 15% of the delegate's votes. After the seventh and final round of voting Hunter had 64.8 percent support, less than two percentage points short of the needed vote. Thompson had 35.2 percent. The assemblies made no endorsement.

Editor's note: During the first round of delegate voting, Ron Paul received the third highest number of votes-- even beating Mitt Romney. Moreover, at least 50 Ron Paul supporters from the St. Louis area showed up on Saturday to hear Dr. Rand Paul (Ron Paul's son) speak to the NFRA delegates. Although clearly the underdog, Ron Paul clearly wins the award for grassroots energy in my opinion.