Bachmann beats Paul in straw poll
 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/08/...html?hpt=hp_t1

Ames, Iowa (CNN) -- Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann won the Ames Straw Poll Saturday, besting eight other Republican candidates in a nonbinding but politically significant vote in the first caucus state of Iowa.
"This is the first step toward taking the White House in 2012," Bachmann told the crowd. "And you have sent a message that Barack Obama will be a one-term president. This is a wonderful down payment on taking the country back -- and it started in Iowa."
The vote was billed as one that could make or break some campaigns. Six Republican presidential hopefuls on Saturday personally appealed for Iowans' vote, not including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She drew throngs at the Iowa State Fair on Friday but has yet to officially decide if she's running.
Bachmann secured 4,823 votes, narrowly besting Texas Rep. Ron Paul who had 4,671 votes. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was chosen on 2,293 ballots, placing him third.
Paul's campaign chairman Jesse Benton said the result proved that the congressman is "a top-tier candidate" that indicates "our message is spreading, our support is surging, and people are taking notice."
Pawlenty, who has trailed in recent polls despite heavy investment in Iowa, issued a statement saying, "We made progress in moving from the back of the pack into a competitive position. ... We are just beginning, and I'm looking forward to a great campaign."
The next closest contenders, in order, are: former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 1,657 votes, businessman Herman Cain with 1,456 votes, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 567 votes. That was slightly less than the 718 who wrote in the name of Texas Gov. Rick Perry -- who declared his candidacy Saturday and wasn't even on the ballot.
Part country fair and entirely political, the Ames Straw Poll has helped take the pulse of a campaign's strength since 1979. It's also the first opportunity for the tens of thousands of voters who weighed in Saturday on which GOP president candidate they support.
The results were announced around 5:30 p.m. CT, capping days of intense politicking and several hours of speeches from candidates and other prominent Republicans.
Bachmann had reason to celebrate, but had a little competition in the headlines department: Perry announced his presidential bid at a meeting of conservatives in South Carolina. The timing of his announcement prompted some grumbling among Iowa Republicans.
Nine announced candidates were on the Iowa ballot, although two of them -- Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman -- skipped the contest. Huntsman is avoiding the Iowa caucuses completely, while Romney's advisers are carefully watching the state and could pounce in the coming months if they see an opening.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was on the ballot, too, but his cash-strapped campaign did not have a formal presence at the straw poll and he only got 385 votes. Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter shelled out thousands of dollars to reserve campaign space outside the straw poll venue, but -- while he played up the perils of "big government" and of ceding "the 21st century (to) Communist China" -- he was not, as expected, a major factor, securing a mere 35 votes.
Iowa straw poll first test for candidates Candidates attack Obama What is the Iowa Straw Poll?
Bachmann had been positioned at or near the top of most Hawkeye State polls thanks to the passions she has stirred among tea party activists and social conservatives who make up a large part of the caucus electorate. But there are questions about how strong her organization in the state is and whether she can compete with Pawlenty's respectable ground game.
Like Huckabee in 2007, though, Bachmann has a natural appeal to evangelicals and home-school activists who tend to show up at political events like straw polls.
In her speech in Ames on Saturday, Bachmann exuded optimism -- proudly and loudly insisting, "We are the team that can't be beat."
Besides playing up her roots in Iowa, where she was raised, the three-term U.S. representative cast herself as a fiscal conservative and "national security conservative." Still, some of the most impassioned parts of her speech dealt with her stances on social issues.
"We are social conservatives, and we will never be ashamed of being social conservatives," Bachmann said. "We understand that religious liberty is the essence of the foothold of this nation."
Another candidate who came in with high expectations was Paul, given his strong performances in straw polls at various conservative gatherings over the years. Such successes are a testament to the devotion of his libertarian-leaning followers and their ability to outorganize and outhustle the competition.
But these days, political observers and members of the media take his straw poll wins for granted. And these victories have yet to translate to larger ones for the now three-time presidential candidate -- who hasn't broken through yet in Republican elections nationally.
Speaking Saturday, Paul called for fewer government regulations and more "freedom for America."
"Liberty and life does not come from the government," he said. "It comes from our creator."
As much as the vote -- a fund-raiser for the Iowa Republican Party -- could catapault some candidates, it may also eliminate those who have staked their candidacies on Iowa but struggled to generate grassroots enthusiasm.
They included Santorum, who acknowledged his underdog status but promised a comeback.
"This is the little-engine-that-could campaign," the staunch social conservative said. "They told us we had no chance."
Cain, a businessman and former radio host running on his outsider image, is fading after a strong early start to the campaign. He had tried to manage expectations for the straw poll, but recently told a Des Moines audience that he needs to finish in the top three. Anything less, he said, would compel him to "evaluate" his campaign.
In a raucous address Saturday, Cain ran through his positions on a host of economic, foreign policy and other matters while saying Americans "are ready to embrace a problem-solver and not another politician."
Referring to an epiphany he had 12 years ago after his first grandchild was born, "I had to use my talents, skills and abilities to do something about this nation and get it off the wrong track," Cain said. "This giant has awakened and is not going back to sleep."
Pawlenty's performance in the poll was seen as especially critical. Observers had said he must finish in first or second place and send a message to his supporters (and the media) that his campaign can soldier on through the fall and winter.
The former Minnesota governor has a platoon of smart political operatives in his corner and is thought to have the best ground game in the state. But despite planting an early flag in Iowa and improving his performance on the stump in recent weeks, the Midwesterner remains stuck in single-digits in state polls.
On Saturday, he echoed many others in blasting President Barack Obama, claiming he "has no clue" and saying "he is like a manure spreader in a wind storm."
Pawlenty also vowed that his ability to get re-elected in Minnesota shows he has the track record to succeed in governing and also win over swing voters.
"I don't just talk about it. We got the job done, for Minnesota and America," he said.
The results of the Iowa straw poll will be carefully scrutinized by political analysts, helping propel some candidates in their fundraising and campaign efforts elsewhere even as it deflates others.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a veteran observer of Republican politics in the state, said it is critical that a candidate do well if they are to have any chance, down the line.
"If you're not in the top three here, your chances of getting elected are not very good," he said.
But history shows a straw poll win hardly guarantees future success in the state or nationwide. In 2007, ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the vote, but his closest rival in the state, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, ultimately won the Iowa caucuses and dealt a fatal blow to Romney's candidacy. The Republican nominee that year, meanwhile, was Arizona Sen. John McCain.
Only one Republican has won the straw poll and gone on to occupy the Oval Office: George W. Bush.

ron paul cant even beat the crazy bitch lol

He only list by one percent in an evangelical state. Go Ron Paul!!


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sounds like Iran ... :1orglaugh:1orglaugh

they have gay marriage in Iowa

I think Iowa is dead right about cutting the Government spending.

They should all set a precedent.

And stop taking farm subsidies.

Then lots of other States will follow their excellent lead. </sarcasm>

She had air conditioned tents and big name entertainment.

Bachmann gave away 6000 tickets, that came a long with a free Randy Travis concert.

Bachmann final vote: 4,823

Ron Paul SOLD 4000 tickets for $10

Ron Paul final vote: 4,671


Not bad.

at this point, ron paul could post a pic of his penis on twitter. the media wont notice.

I'm happy with the results although I would rather have seen Ron Paul take the lead. At least it's showing there's a growing interest in returning to smaller government and actually following the constitution.

I don't know how many of you watch the debates but Bauchman annoys the hell out of me. She's always talking about, how "I" did this, how "I" did that, how "I'm" running this, how "I" started that; I, I, I, I, I.

Bitch this isn't about you it's about the people; you sound like a pompous ass.

That's my opinion anyway ;)

US politics is a clown show.

They gots them some real smart people out in Iowa apparently....:1orglaugh

too bad none of the people running really believe in that. they are just career politicians.

More proof that the masses are ignorant given who the top winners were... But I guess when you tell them what they want to hear as opposed to the truth they'll just lap it up.

ron paul will win nomination, just wait and see

that would be pretty cool imho

...and if straw was voting in the next election, it might actually mean something.

There are more Christian Rightists with hard ons than Libertarian Lazzifare nuts ...

The only people more stupid than Michele Bachmann are the people who support her.

Ron Paul got the 4th highest vote count in the history of the poll.

Ron Paul got more votes than the winner in 2007 (Mitt Romney).

Bachmann was born in Iowa.

Bachmann gave away 6,000 tickets.

Bachmann had a giant air conditioned tent, free food and Randy Travis live on stage for people that voted in the straw poll.

Ron Paul lost by 9/10ths of 1%.

pornographers would be killed in ron paul's america. you people are part of an internet cult. snap out of it and think for yourselves.

even if he had won. it still wouldn't mean shit. it's a fucking Iowa straw poll.
that michelle bachmann won.
lol

Doubt it, would guarantee a second term for Obama. :2 cents:

Recent polls suggest otherwise.

Ron Paul was at a 50/50 tie with Obama in a recent Harris Interactive Poll. The only candidate, that is running, that beat him is Mitt Romney and only by 1%.

Ron Paul is more likely to beat Obama than Gingrich, Pawlenty, Bachmann, Perry, Santorum, Huntsman, Cain, Johnson and McCotter (in that order).

Well, Ill take my chances with Paul, and also I am hoping your luck with getting things right on predicting whos going to win, gives us the same luck as last time.

You said Obama had no chance, and although I wish Paul would of won, thank god mccain didnt.

.+1:2 cents::thumbsup


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It's scary that there's even a slight chance that dumb bitch has a shot at being the next president.

BTW, Ron Paul will never be president. EVER. He makes too much sense, and the powers that be on both sides of the aisle will NEVER let it happen.

I think the straw vote is a little ridiculous taking into account that you had to pay $30 to vote.

I see a Romney / Bachmann ticket in the future.

Which is a shame really because Bachmann will be easy to destroy - Ask her why she thinks gay men live in bondage and that pretty much silences her.

This is gonna be fun!

i read ron paul also charged $10/ticket.

yah yah lol

The dude's face is pretty funny too

She's a good looking lady

That may be true. I don't know if he subsidized the tickets or not. It's a pretty common thing for candidates subsidize or pay the voting fee entirely for these types of things. That does not guarantee they will vote "correctly" though.

either way, it makes his finish even more impressive imo, could be wrong, kane believes straw poll means zilch, and he a pretty fart smeller, i mean smart feller. :winkwink:

ron paul's problem is he will never ever have enough money to campaign at any serious level and maybe that's why he is shunned in mainstream media. he does not and can not pay them.

i watched.

this video is not going to be good for ron paul. :1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

all glory to the ron paul

This tells a lot and if it's true, which i have no reason to doubt it, this would put Ron Paul way ahead.

No one seems to feel that Ron Paul could win the general election however, I feel it would be harder for him to win the Republican Nomination. He's not a true party person and I am sure not the favorite among the GOP leadership. A win for him would be a sound slap in face to many and he could be much better at winning left and independent support than any other GOP candidate where Bachman and Romney would only carry the GOP vote for the most part.

http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/...hmann-nuts.jpg

And what do you think a win by Bachmann, Romney or Perry would guarantee?

I can really see those neocons (or in Bachmann's case, tea-o-con) stealing a lot of votes from Independents, and disgruntled former Obama supporters. :1orglaugh

Why not??? Not like as the president he has any real power to get things done.. And I'm sure if he got in he'd be sat down and given a long talking to so he clearly knew where things really stood.

T-Paw or Hunstman stand the best chance with Mitt in 3rd to both carry the nom and/or beat obama. The rest of the field is a sad joke.

"T-Paw" is not even in the race anymore...

Yeah, I hadn't been paying attention to the news all weekend. Too bad one of the only sane dudes is out.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh thank you sir

that's the republican that will get the nomination probably