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Title: Straw poll: Rand Paul tops among Mich. GOP activists
Source:
Detroit News
URL Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne ... g-mich-gop-activists/72504936/
Published: Sep 20, 2015
Author: Chad Livengood & Melissa Nann Burke
Post Date: 2015-09-20 00:13:06 by Hondo68
Keywords: Mackinac Republican, Leadership Conference, waiting for Mitt to show up
Views: 708
Comments: 6
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul won the presidential straw poll at this weekend’s Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, capturing 22 percent of the vote among a field of 16 candidates.(Photo: Charles V. Tines / The Detroit News) Mackinac Island — Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul won the presidential straw poll at this weekend’s Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, capturing 22 percent of the vote among a field of 16 candidates. Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina came in second place with 15 percent of the vote, followed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich in third place and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz finishing fourth in The Detroit News/MIRS presidential straw poll. Paul’s campaign turned out supporters to the Michigan Republican Party’s leadership conference. Five presidential candidates barnstormed Mackinac Island Friday and Saturday, engaging in retail politicking among 2,200 Michigan Republicans attending the state party’s 31st biennial leadership conference. Michigan Information & Research Service and The Detroit News started conducting the straw poll Friday and ended the survey of conference attendees at 10 p.m. Saturday after Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul delivered the final keynote address of the weekend. The libertarian-minded Paul won a straw poll at the 2013 GOP Mackinac conference and placed an emphasis on winning this weekend’s contest. Before his Saturday night speech, Paul held a rally at the nearby Gate House restaurant that was attended by about 65 students from Hillsdale College and others young Republicans from Saginaw Valley State University, Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and the University of Michigan. “More than anyone, I think he represents values like liberty, the constitution and economic freedom,” said Curran Hennessey of Grand Rapids. “He is in the best position to defeat Hillary Clinton in 2016.” Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush had the stage to himself Friday night and said he would work to repair America’s relations abroad and with Canada. The son and brother of two former presidents also sought to portray his family name as an asset, rather than a political liability, after several months of avoiding it. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had to cancel his Saturday morning speech because his charter plane couldn’t land on Mackinac Island during an early morning rain storm. At a Saturday luncheon, Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich took turns making their pitches to the GOP faithful. Cruz used his speech to warn against the encroaching size of government, while Kasich spoke in specific terms about how he would rein in the federal bureaucracy. “It was a contrast between the entertainer and the serious candidate,” said Republican strategist Greg McNeilly, who is neutral in the presidential race but no fan of Cruz’s candidacy. Natalie Griffin, a junior at Western Michigan University, said she was voting for Kasich because his views on the issues most closely align with hers, especially prioritizing mental health treatment and prison reform. “Even on things that I don’t necessarily agree with him on, he’s still a moderate and not an extremist,” said Griffin, who is studying to become a nurse. Before filling out her ballot, Kristin Holcomb of Chelsea was wavering between Bush and Kasich and – after her performance at Wednesday’s debate – Fiorina. “I’m still waiting for Mitt Romney to show up, honestly. But I think I’ll go with Bush because he’s my first ‘love,’” said Holcomb, who lives half of the year in Florida. “But I could be swayed because I like the other two very much.” Marylouise Fischbach of Grass Lake is leaning toward both Fiorina and Kasich – “moreso Kasich at this point,” she said. “He’s very smart and smart fiscally. He balanced the budget, and we need that,” Fischbach said. “I don’t hold it against him that he went to Ohio State.” Mike Krafchak of Milford said he was voting for Trump, having been a fan since reading his book, “The Art of the Deal” when published in 1987. “I’m a businessman, and I know what businessmen can do. I’m looking for something new,” Krafchak said, adding he’s frustrated and disenchanted with the governing elite in Washington, D.C. “He’s been able to prove he can get things done, over and over and over. I’m very disappointed he’s not here. I would have gone to Traverse City to pick him up.” Jared Maynard, a state GOP committee member from Macomb County, was volunteering for the campaign of Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who did not attend the conference. Maynard said Rubio’s humble roots appeal to his own blue-collar upbringing in Macomb County. “Marco Rubio is a young guy who’s ready to lead and bring actual leadership when you see him,” Maynard said. Poster Comment: Paul 22%
Fiorina 15%
Kasich 13.7%
Cruz 13%
Bush 9.7%
Rubio 8.4%
Trump 6.7%
Carson 5.5%
Walker 2.5%
Huckabee .76%
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 4.
#3. To: hondo68 (#0)
A Straw poll among people who had straw for brains.
Robert, you are too kind to them.
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#4. To: rlk (#3)
" people who had straw for brains "
Replies to Comment # 4.
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