Results from the 2011 Republican Leadership Conference (formerly known as the “Southern Republican Leadership Conference”) straw poll are as follows:
Perhaps the biggest surprises other than Ron Paul’s win (if Ron Paul’s winning of a straw poll can be called a surprise anymore) are Huntsman’s impressive showing, and Romney and Pawlenty’s surprisingly dismal showings. It should be noted that neither Romney or Pawlenty decided to attend the convention, which just goes to show that no amount of “frontrunner” status can simply make votes fall in one’s lap — votes must be worked for — which is a truth the “lower tier” candidates seem to be grasping well.
June 19th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Hey Josiah, thanks for mentioning that neither Pawlenty nor Romney attended.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
#1 MC,
My bad. Post has been edited to reflect that fact.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Huntsman also did not attend the convention. He cancelled last minute. According to Erick Erickson of RedState, Huntsman’s team bought a ton of tickets to the event.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
3
Oh, thanks for clearing that up.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Ron Paul did that last year and would not surprise me if he did it this year. I just hope his supporters did not nearly start a fight like they did last year. Ron Paul winning shows how worthless straw polls are.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
And this is why Romney is not going to throw money away at straw polls.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
“Ron Paul winning shows how worthless straw polls are.”
…you mean how worthless they’ve become. A cycle ago, two at most, these polls did mean something – at least to the extent that anything other than “coming in second in the previous primary cycle” has meant anything.
But unless are going to stop dismissing the real early polls, the straw polls remain the best we’ve got in determining the direction of the race.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
I’m waiting to see if the Paul supporters will muster the cash and numbers to win Ames.
And yes, the straw polls have become meaningless…except as event fundraisers that is…
PS. Josiah, what’s this: “which just goes to show that no amount of “frontrunner” status can simply make votes fall in one’s lap — votes must be worked for — which is a truth the “lower tier” candidates seem to be grasping well.”
A little disinformation there? Some liberal spawned spin?
By working for votes do you mean forking out the cash to buy tickets for people to attend and give them incentives to vote for you?
So if you choose not to do that, you are not working for votes?
Brawhahaha…..nice try (snark)
So tell me where to go to sell my vote that is included in a real poll or a real election. Does Ron Paul pay better than the rest?
June 19th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Straw Poll votes aren’t worked for. They are bought. Straw Polls are silly gimmicks. The only thing they prove is organizational strength. I don’t think anyone is doubting Romney’s organization.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
“I don’t think anyone is doubting Romney’s organization.”
This, I think is the key…and the main reason they matter less this cycle. As a rule, the general population does not vote in straw polls – its the insiders and diehards. In the past, straw polls have been good to solidify frontrunner status, advance a candidate into the top tier, or crown a top lower-tier candidate.
Most of these things don’t apply this time.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Our last nominee didn’t contest the Ames Straw Poll.
June 19th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Ron Paul already has a facebook campaign for the Ames straw poll. You can sign up for free tickets and a bus ride.
I am beginning to see them as meaningless. Of course the Iowa straw poll does give the candidates a national platform for their speeches, and the media hypes the outcome of the poll because it’s Iowa, but they are really a joke.
Quite the scam for the Iowa GOP, as it is their largest fund raiser. Get 15,000 people at $35 a head and also rent real estate outside the event for thousands of dollars for the tents and entertainment…it’s like a carnival and all the cash goes to the Iowa GOP…
June 19th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Josiah
Votes are not earned so much as trucked in. But that’s what straw polls are becoming. Too bad, actually.
CraigS
June 19th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
The establishment is now trying to say Iowa is not important !!
June 20th, 2011 at 9:15 am
What has happened to America? Straw polls are being bought by busing in people? I’m trying to find some of the videos of the speakers. I just watched Rick Perry’s RLC speech and I hope he decides to get into the presidential race.
I am still very much undecided since Huckabee isn’t running. I’d like to see a few more choices before deciding. And for the record – my vote is not for sale – it has to be earned.
June 20th, 2011 at 10:07 am
I really hope Ron Paul wins the Iowa Straw Poll. That would put an end to any importance it might have had in the past.
June 21st, 2011 at 5:19 am
[...] at the RLCIt has been reported and/or suspected that Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman bussed in supporters (found in comments under Race42012 article) to help them win the straw poll. If true, it must have worked because Paul won the straw poll and [...]
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