The official result of the Straw Poll at the Advance had Ron Paul as the winner with 38% of the vote. However, given that Ron Paul supporters get bussed in and have their admission paid for by his campaign to EVERY state GOP straw poll, as SWAC Girl points out, the results are a bit dubious.
So, you look to the number 2 slot for the person that actually has the most support among actual Virginia Republicans...which is none other than Fred Thompson! Fred pulled in 23% to finish second, and Mike Huckabee was a distant 3rd with only 11%.
So, all Ron Paul campaign tricks aside, the REAL winner of the Virginia GOP Straw Poll is Fred Thompson.
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I totally agree! We must expose and stop these Ron Paul supporters!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK-QR88yfOE
Actually, you are incorrect here --- the official Ron Paul campaign has NEVER paid for anyone to attend a straw poll, or any other event (unlike Rudy and Mitt have, many times, for example). I'm sure you are bewildered by the passion of those who actually believe in the principles upon which this country was founded, but it is a very powerful force, and capable of motivating ordinary people far more than the appeals to power, influence and fear typcial of the other, status-quo candidates.
SWAC Girl *speculates* that the Paul supporters might have been bussed in (which, based on my own experiences with Paul's groups, is quite unlikely - though perhaps some of them chartered a bus of their own). She also does some math on how much Paul's campaign would have had to spend to pay for their supporters' tickets. From this you jump to the idea that Paul's supporters get bussed everywhere and have their tickets paid by the campaign.
Sorry, but this isn't true. Paul just has a lot of supporters that are enthusiastic enough to come out for a poll. You'd have to look to Romney for an example of a campaign that busses people everywhere and pays their tickets.
People had to pay their own $35 to vote; no one was bussed in, unless you count the subway. What about other states' straw polls?
Wow, I really don't know what to say. I have heard this allegation making it around that Ron Paul's supporters were some how bussed in on straw poll day.
The truth is that when I arrived at the VA GOP straw poll yesterday, along with my 4 other friends, I was afraid we would be the only Paul supporters to turn up. We came in and registered around 3 o clock and then went off to grab some food.
On our way out of the hotel I saw a handful of Paul supporters and a host of other republicans I could assume did not support Ron Paul. When we came back at 4 it seemed like everyone was waiting to get into the ballroom where the straw poll would happen.
The place was completely packed with Paul supporters! Paul's volunteers were giving away all of their campaign materials - signs, buttons, DVD's. One gentleman approached me and asked why it was that we all came here. I told him why I supported Paul but told him that everyone had their own reasons.
After the straw poll we went up to one of the suites in the hotel for drinks, where I had a chance to meet a lot of his supporters. Most people seemed to come on their own and with their close family/friends who also support Ron Paul. I met several gentleman who came alone, a handful of couples and a few packs of friends who all turned out to show their support.
Some were from VA beach, others from NOVA, Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg, literally all over Virginia.
I also spoke with a lot of other people who were more regular to the GOP than my friends and I. The dialogue was refreshingly *not* hostile. We shared a good deal of respect for our views on fiscal conservatism and many invited me to become more involved in the Republican party.
I didn't see any buses when I was there and I sincerely doubt that the frugal Ron Paul campaign would hook something like that up.
Ron Paul supporters were not bussed in nor were their admissions paid for by his campaign. Please do not post false allegations. Check for facts before spreading someone else's ASSumptions.
Unfortunately none of the other candidates outside of Ron Paul have a message that inspires people enough to get many of them out to participate.
sour grapes
Since when is being well-organized and enthusiastic a "campaign trick"?
A) I rescinded this statement in a post on Tuesday.
B) It is a campaign trick to attend such events as straw polls en masse to push your candidate. It's not a "dirty" trick, but it is a trick done by rabid and passionate supporters...despite the fact that Paul is polling 4-7 percent nationally.
A) I rescinded this statement in a post on Tuesday.
B) It is a campaign trick to attend such events as straw polls en masse to push your candidate. It's not a "dirty" trick, but it is a trick done by rabid and passionate supporters...despite the fact that Paul is polling 4-7 percent nationally.
As a former Virginian I wanted to add my two cents on straw polls...
We had one here in St. Pete... Heres a link to it...Its all over youtube too!
http://www.nolanchart.com/article355.html
I was there this really happened...
Though I paid and had my one ticket to vote it was raining they closed the polls...I did not use it...
Now we in Sarasota county are having one too... AND the REC chairman says you can vote as many tickets as you buy... So officially those that buy the most tickets get the most votes!
Yes folks its all about buying the vote...Straw polls are bogus... Ames Iowa is the only official one I know of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ames_Straw_Poll
Before the 1999 Ames Straw Poll, voter fraud was widespread: many individuals managed to vote repeatedly by visiting the bathroom and washing off the stamp on the back of their hand which indicated they had voted. Beginning with the 1999 Ames Straw Poll, the ink used for hand-stamping was changed to one that resisted being washed off.[4] In 2007, instead of hand-stamping, thumbs were dipped in indelible ink.[5
Oh I forgot to mention we had two guys(RON PAUL SUPPORTERS) that owned trolley companies donate their time and trolley to run us around to various activies during the debate, we paid 10 bucks for a wristband...WE also rented out the Palladium theater and ron paul came over after the debate... In addition we had two lighted airplanes in the sky and two ron paul decorated yachts in the basin! It was awesome! All donated and paid for by Ron Paul Meetup group supporters! Yet with a thousand Ron Paulers to a pittance(approx 200) of mitt romneys folks, romney won the straw poll...
VOTES is what money buys ya at a straw poll ie: Romney! LOL
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/79/messages/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3886284&listpage=20
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