Iowa Straw Poll

AMES, Iowa (AP) The Iowa Republican straw poll has hit a snag.
http://www.kxmc.com/News/151940.asp

The results were delayed by more than an hour. The Republican Party of Iowa is blaming "machine difficulties." At least 1,500 ballots from one machine had to be counted by hand, and took far longer than expected.

The situation may have added fuel to the fire of some Ron Paul supporters who had tried unsuccessfully to block voting at the event because of the machines. They'd filed a federal lawsuit earlier this week, arguing that the vote-counting machines, made by Diebold Election Systems, had fundamental weaknesses.

As many as 40,000 Republicans participated in the straw poll on the grounds of Iowa State University.

For some of the candidates, a poor showing could prompt them to drop out of the race.

Gov Mitt Romney won the 2007 Ames straw poll, receiving 4516 votes, or 31%.

In a surprise, Gov. Mike Huckabee finished second with 2587 votes at 18.1%


11. John Cox with 41 votes.
10. John McCain with 101 votes.
9. Duncan Hunter with 174 votes.
8. Rudy Giuliani with 183 votes.
7. Fred Thomson with 231 votes.
6. Tommy Thompson, 1,009 votes, 7.3%
5. Ron Paul with 1305 votes, and 9.1%
4. Tom Tancredo with 1961 votes, 13.7%.
3. Sen. Sam Brownback with 2192 votes and 15.3%
2. Huckabee with 2587 votes at 18.1%
1. Romney with 4516 votes, or 31%.
Iowa state auditor David Vaudt unofficially certified the results.

14,203 ballots were cast.

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Looks like Hunter and Tommy Thompson are history. Guess the Iowa voters don't like being snubbed. Ron Paul dissapointed me a bit I expected a 2nd or 3rd but the field after Tommy Thompson was putrid. John Cox 41 Votes WTF? Does he need a day time hobby? Take up fishing or golf but don't run for president with nothing different to offer.

If the votes are legit,we're not just the internet but we have a hell of a lot more groundwork to do if we want to get Ron in the white house. Romney has to be pissed with only 31%, Huckabee and Brownback both spent a great amount of resources on Iowa. Tancredo as the debates go on will be exposed for a shill more and more. We have a fair chance at the nomination, just keep his name on people's minds in Iowa and Nationwide.

I think this will just organize the Ron Paul supporters even more. Ron did not spend nearly as much time or money in Iowa as his rivals. We need to regroup and start hard in New Hampshire.