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Title: Rick Who? Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul get most votes at Iowa straw poll (Romney a distant 7th)
Source:
The Houston Chronicle
URL Source: http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/201 ... most-votes-at-iowa-straw-poll/
Published: Aug 13, 2011
Author: Richard Dunham
Post Date: 2011-08-13 19:38:55 by Hondo68
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Keywords: Bachmann first with 4,823, Ron Paul second 4,671 votes, signers of Pro-Life Pledge
Views: 31500
Comments: 52
Texas Gov. Rick Perry got the national attention but Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Texas Rep. Ron Paul got more votes today at the Iowa straw poll. Paul finished a close second at the quadrennial fundraiser in Ames. The Lake Jackson congressman received 4,671 votes. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, an Iowa native, finished first with 4,823. Perry received 718 write-in votes, placing him sixth, just ahead of fellow no-show Mitt Romney. The straw poll, which was overshadowed by Perry's competing event in South Carolina, traditionally serves as a test of campaign organizations and a winnower of presidential also-rans. Remember would-be presidents Orrin Hatch, Dan Quayle, Elizabeth Dole and Tommy Thompson? Their White House runs ended soon after this same straw poll. Among the candidates on the razor's edge after the straw poll were Rep. Tim Pawlenty, whose campaign was well-organized but finished far back in third place, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, whose struggling candidacy garnered just 69 votes, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose campaign did not have enough cash on hand to rent a tent in Ames. Perry didn't participate in the Iowa event, but an independent group of Perry supporters (Americans for Rick Perry) stumped the state for a week in search of write-in votes in Ames. In the end, the straw poll ended up a test of enthusiasm, and the candidates with the most enthusiastic support were Paul and Bachmann. Another important note: The top finishers all were signers of a pledge to outlaw abortion and the three non-signers (Romney, Cain and Huntsman) finished at the back of the pack. “It is no surprise that the top four vote getters of the Iowa Straw Poll are also signers of our Pro-Life Presidential Leadership Pledge,” said Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Pro-life politics have long played a crucial role in Republican primaries and this election cycle will be no different." Perry, as a new candidate, has not yet signed the pledge. But there was considerable griping about the absentee candidate in Ames. "Today was a bad choice of days" for the Texan to declare his intentions, Rep. Steve King, a prominent conservative leader in Iowa, told NBC's Chuck Todd. "He has to work harder," said King, "and it'll be harder for him to get traction because of the timing today." Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, invited Perry to seek the votes of Hawkeye State voters. "The more, the merrier," he said. Here are the final returns: Bachmann, 4823 Paul, 4671 Pawlenty, 2293 Santorum, 1657 Cain, 1456 Perry, 718 Romney, 567 Gingrich, 385 Huntsman, 69 McCotter, 35
Ron Paul addresses the crowd in Ames. (Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)
Michele Bachmann turned out her backers in Ames. Rick Perry may want to convince some of them to switch. (Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)
Rep. Steve King (right) is close to Michele Bachmann. Rick Perry, not so much. (Nati Harnik/Associated Press)
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#1. To: hondo68, *Elections 2012*, *RON PAUL 2012*, *Tea Party On Parade* (#0)
{{{chuckle}}}
#2. To: Brian S, *Yukon neo-Progressive Vermin* (#1)
Maybe Romney can be Bachmann's VP?
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