Romney, shown earlier this year winning a Conservative Political Action Committee Straw Poll. And now the Iowa Republican Party Straw Poll.(Photo by Susan Walsh/ Associated Press)
by Mark Silva
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, as expected, has claimed the most support in the Iowa Republican Party's Straw Poll.
Romney had spent millions of dollars and months of effort on an event that was skipped by two of his major rivals -- Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. And the results are in from the straw poll hall in Ames, Iowa, tonight.
Romney scored 4,416 votes among those attending the Straw Poll at the Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University, outpacing former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, with 2,587 votes.
For Romney, this represents the first widely watched party victory, albeit nonbinding, of a long primary campaign, a victory which Romney will attempt to parlay into broader support as he seeks the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nomination.
""Today, the people of Iowa took the first step towards bringing change to Washington,'' Romney said. "This important victory sends a signal to grassroots Republican activists across the country that we are working hard to earn their support, and that we are ready to begin the work of strengthening our economy, our military and our families."
Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback finished third in the straw poll, a tradition and fundraiser for the Iowa Republican Party since 1978, with 2,192 of the votes cast in Ames following a day-long, fair-like event.
Announcement of the results was delayed for 90 minutes because a hand count was required on one of the 18 electronic vote counting machines.
The biggest loser of the evening: former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who finished in sixth place with 1,039 votes. He had said repeatedly that if he didn't finish in the top two his campaign was likely to end.
The missing big-name Republicans claimed little support in the straw poll. Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee collected 203 votes. Former New York City Mayor Giuliani collected 183 and Sen. McCain of Arizona 101. Giuliani and McCain did not compete in this contest, and Thompson has not formally announced a campaign yet.
McCain campaign manager Rick Davis, insisting that the real campaign lies in the presidential nominating caucuses that Iowa will hold in January, issued this statement tonight:
"Over the past eight months John McCain has met with Iowans across the state, built a broad base of support, and demonstrated why he is the most prepared candidate to lead America from day one, '' Davis said. "We are fully committed to competing successfully in the Iowa caucuses, and we look forward to continuing to campaign aggressively in the Hawkeye State."
McCain did not compete in the Iowa caucuses of 2000, staking his first victory in the New Hampshire primary election. It was President Bush who carried the Iowa GOP's Straw Poll in 1999 and then the caucuses as well, going on to win nomination and election in 2000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments
Looks like Flip-Flopping Hypocrite Mitty just BOUGHT himself a "victory" with the Iowa Wingnut crowd....that he had bused in to vote for him.
After the Dems get finished with Frenchy Romney and Rudy Gigoloiani the Neonut crowd is going to wish they had never called John Kerry a flip-flopper in 04.
Posted by: John E | August 11, 2007 11:41 PM
Romney has put big bucks into this thing:
Romney has outspent his straw poll opponents in Iowa to an almost comical degree, airing more than $1 million in radio and television ads in the state this year, mailing glossy brochures, placing thousands of phone calls, and paying dozens of local activists stipends of $500 to $1,000 a month to help build his organization [...]
Rival Republican campaigns have sought to raise turnout expectations for Romney while insinuating he is trying to buy the beauty contest; one circulated estimates yesterday that he could spend as much as $2 million on winning the straw poll. The Romney campaign said it had no estimate of its spending for the event...hahahahah!
Funny stuff, this is also funny, he was the only top tier candidate to compete and he still couldn't even score a third of the votes with B and C-List competition despite spending $2-3 million.
Posted by: John E | August 12, 2007 12:27 AM
Awesome, Romney can be President of Iowa!
Posted by: Just Steve | August 12, 2007 5:41 AM
The Swamp's coverage included a decent sized quote from the winner, Mitt Romney. But the only other quote wasn't from the candidate who finished 2nd, Mike Huckabee, or 3rd place finisher Brownback, but rather from the guy who finished 10th, John McCain. McCain finished behind Duncan Hunter, yet the Swamp actually allotted the McCain spokesman more words than the winner.
Huh?
Posted by: Bruce | August 12, 2007 8:05 AM
So Willard buys himself a 'win' that means virtually nothing.
That sound you hear is millions of people yawning.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | August 12, 2007 9:22 AM
Congrats to Mitt Romney for winning the Iowa straw poll. Next Thursday at GOP Day at the State Fair Illinois will vote in a straw poll for the Republican frontrunners. it will be announced nationally at 4:30 p.m. according to Andy McKenna state party chairman. I'm looking forward to Illinois making some news for a change beyond corruption in Chicago and the statehouse. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | August 12, 2007 10:22 AM
This is the law of increasing returns right here. You keep giving Romney the most press he's going to get the most votes. This has not been fair and balanced press coverage. Look at Ron Paul everyone said he would get 2% tops. He got over 9% and finished 5 with no press coverage. I think the media owes everyone an opportunity to see what every candidate has to offer not just romney and guiliani.
Posted by: Jeff | August 12, 2007 10:28 AM
So let's review; We have had this 'straw poll', but now we still have to suffer through the caucuses, which may happen on X-mas?
""Today, the people of Iowa took the first step towards bringing change to Washington,'' Romney said.
Why does Cpn. Willard hate our president?
Posted by: C.Morris | August 12, 2007 11:41 AM
The parallels are striking:
In WWII, Iowa had "The Fighting Sullivans" brothers who all went down with their ship fighting against Japan.
Now we have the "Roamin' Romneys" boys doing their duty, toughing it out, going from county to county in Iowa just like dear old dad back in France during the Vietnam war.
The few, the proud, the "nope we ain't goin' either."
Wars and patriotism are a great things - for other people.
Posted by: Chickenhawk Patrol | August 12, 2007 12:26 PM
What a treat it will be if both become nominated and there is a series of debates between Hillary and Romney.
The shrieker vs. Mr. Suave. Keep the mute button handy.
Posted by: Elston | August 12, 2007 12:52 PM
I recall Howard Dean had his Deaniacs running around in yellow shirts during his campaign. Are these the same shirts turned inside-out?
Posted by: RomanB | August 12, 2007 1:18 PM
He spent an awful lot of money for that 'win.'
Posted by: Cheryl | August 12, 2007 1:19 PM
I think Romney just threw money around and he will have to contend with a ground swell of people who are sick of politics as usual. Straw polls, especially like the one in Iowa mean as much to me as the regular polls do, not much. It depends on who you're asking and how the question is formed.
I noticed a sign in the grass at the side of the road that said "google Ron Paul". I think this is the type of thing these so-called "front runners" better watch out for. People are mad as hell...Ron Paul was mentioned 75 times this morning on Washington Journal by people who don't want to take it anymore.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | August 12, 2007 4:14 PM
If Hillary and Romney are both nominated and enter into debates, we'll need a mute button for half of the exchange. Guess which half.
Posted by: Archer | August 12, 2007 5:31 PM
Headline;
'Straw Dog Wins Straw Poll!'
Posted by: C.Morris | August 12, 2007 7:01 PM
"ROMNEY LESSOR OF THE 3 EVILS"
SOMEONE HAS TO GET IN! SOMEONE HAS TO BE A FRONT RUNNER? ROMNEY FLIP FLOPS RIGHT AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND FLIP FLOPS AGAIN RIGHT AT THE WRONG TIME.
SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET. SOME MEN OUT THERE MAY THINK FINALLY THEY WILL GET ANOTHER WIFE TO GO WITH THE ONE THEY HAVE. OR EVEN THE DAUGHTER TO MY NEPHEW. SOME MEN THINK THEY WILL FINALLY BE ABLE TO JUST GO THERE, IT'S A MANS WORLD VOTE FOR MITT, AS I WILL BRING YOU EVER LASTING WIVES AND CHILDREN.
IOWA WAS WRONG ABOUT GEORGE BUSH ON ONE OF ITS MOST HONEST CONSERVATIVE AMERICAN DAYS. THEY CHOSE A FABRICATOR, A MAN WHO CLAIMED HE HEARS THE VOICES.
SO NOW DO WE SAY TO MITT WHEN WE SEE HIM, "HEY WHATS UP DOG."
BECAUSE DOG IN AMERICA CAN HAVE MANY A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS. EBONICS DEFINES IT AS MY HOMEY, MY PARTNER, MY D O DOUBLE GG. SO.....
STAW DOG MITT AND HIS
GOP BULLIES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE WHOM? DIRTY DOGS!
DOES MITT ROMNEY CONSIDER HIS PROPHET WARREN JEFF AS HIS DOG? DOES HIS SONS WANT TO BE JUST LIKE THE GREAT PROPHET DOGGY DOG DOG DOG! D O TO DOUBLE GG WARREN JEFF.
MAYBE THIS WILL BE MITTS FIRST COMMUTED FELON, BEST FRIEND AND CONFIDANT.
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A STRAW DOG.
SO WHATS UP DOG!
Posted by: Roger Davis | August 13, 2007 2:05 PM