Ames Straw Poll Results: Paul Finishes Fifth w/9.1%; Romney Fizzles

Three Questions for the RON PAUL Campaign Bosses:

(1) Why did you spend so little time in Iowa? Frankly, I was very disappointed to learn RP spent little time in Iowa. What was the point?

(2) How many hours, days, & weeks will Ron Paul be Campaigning in New Hampshire?

(3) How much TV money is budgeted for Ron Paul Campaign in New Hampshire? Lets not forget, in this society, nothing is "real" unless its on TV and TV likes to say the internet is "not real".

(4) Where o where is the click-able Icon to donate to a National TV "anti-war - Pro-Constitution Ron Paul ad" to air in January? The time is now to start collecting money. I do not want to send into a general fund, I only will give $$ for specific actions.

(5)... Would you tell RP that add to his remarks the following?:

(a) ...."lets abolish the Income Tax" then say..."so we all may give generously to Charities"

(b)...."Lets abolish the Income Tax, and watch companies from around the world race back to America again."

(c)..."Lets abolish the Income tax so employers can pay high salaries, great health benefits and the phrase 'made in America' will mean something again".

Just saw Dutch TV covering the IOWA straw poll, with postive remarks on the Ron Paul campaign. Great shots of the many supporters and a view great moments from his speech. So I'm very happy about that.

As many have pointed out, given our lack of spending, lack of personal presence and his principled stand against crop subsidies, Dr. Paul did quite well. Some are disappointed in the 5th place showing, and that is perfectly OK, so long as we don't get discouraged.

We are giving our time and our money, not just to a candidate, but to the principles he is espousing. Liberty is more than just a word - it is a way of thinking, a way of living, a way of being. If Dr. Paul had finished dead last, I would still be supporting him because he is the ONLY candidate with a track record of practicing what he preaches, the only one who resists the compromising of our liberties.

"THESE are the times that try men's souls." goes the quote - and it is in those times where the true mettle of an individual is revealed. Will we give up, go home, forget the dream - or will we fight on in the face of overwhelming odds and deceit? Let's show those who oppose us what sort of patriot they are facing!

I am a Mormon, but I cannot support Romney.

Whether you’re Mormon or not, ask any Mormons you know of to read this.

When I saw the video of Ron Paul stepping away from his podium in the CNN republican debate and arguing for our liberties and saying: “We have to come to our senses about this issue of war in pre-emption…” the courage he showed standing alone against everyone in the building, as well as his message, reminded me of the picture of Abinadi, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, standing in front of the wicked king and his high priests, warning of their loss of liberty because of their corrupted government (Mosiah chapter 11).

Those people complained about paying a 20% (1/5th) tax and about the misuse of that tax; shouldn’t we be angrier about the 40 or 50% that we pay now? We are more fortunate than them because we can vote.

The patriot J. Reuben Clark said:
“I say… with all the soberness I can, that we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and that once lost, only blood will bring them back…”

Income tax started in 1913, and it makes us slaves. Romney has never mentioned cutting taxes. Ron Paul wants to eliminate the IRS and Federal Reserve. (If you watch Aaron Russo’s documentary Freedom to Fascism, you’ll see that the income tax is not constitutional.)

We were warned long ago that the Constitution will be “upon the brink of ruin:”
http://speeches.byu.edu/r....

Until now we have not heard anything from Romney’s mouth about the Constitution. But we have heard the inspired words of Congressman Ron Paul and how he’s going to help the nation restore the Constitution and restrain the federal government as our Founding Fathers designed. Even if Romney’s campaign were to suddenly start talking up the Constitution or tax cuts, he can’t manufacture an impeccable 20-year voting record.

Ezra Taft Benson, a previous Mormon president and former secretary of agriculture, said: “To have been on the wrong side of the freedom issue in the War in Heaven meant eternal damnation. How then can [we] expect to be on the wrong side in this life and escape the eternal consequences. The issues are the same: Shall men be compelled to do what others claim is for their best welfare …” (Read Benson’s books: “God, Family, and Country” and “An Enemy Hath Done This”)

If you lived during Abinadi’s time and saw him stand alone speaking against the king, which side would you have been on? If Ezra Taft Benson were alive today, who do you think he would vote for?

Here is an interesting bit of info. Just food for thought. I'm no investigative jounalist so I can't verify any of this.
I know Ron Paul is not the bickering type. But me, well, I bicker about everyhitng.
On a scale of 1 - 100, my cats doing their business where they are not supposed being about a 10 and a nuclear holocaust being 100 I would rate this info around 80. Accurate ballot counts are essential in this political environment.

BradBlog
26,000 total Tickets sold - 14,302 votes tabulated
Sun Aug 12, 2007 01:30
72.201.70.108

According to DerekLarsson over at BradBlog,

There were 26,000 total Tickets sold for this event, yet there were only just 14,302 votes tabulated.

Now think about that for a minute.
26,000 people purchase tickets to go to a Straw Poll event, and yet we are to believe that 12,000 of those people couldn’t even care less about the voting part? Just what were they there for?

http://disc.server.com/di...

There ya go.
ciao!

GO RON PAUL!

This from ABC online polll at:
http://abcnews.go.com/Pol...

Now that the debate's over, it's time to consider the winners and losers.

Who do you think won the Republican debate?

Ron Paul 42,588

Mitt Romney4,644

Nobody won. I'm voting Democratic.3,620

Rudy Giuliani3,279

Nobody. I'm waiting for Fred Thompson or Newt Gingrich to enter the race.3,005

Mike Huckabee2,740

Sam Brownback1,054

Tom Tancredo782

Tommy Thompson763

John McCain753

Duncan Hunter431

Total Vote: 63,659

Impressive? I think so. Even though it is not a scientific poll.
ciao
GO RON PAUL!

The bottom line is: No one can prove that Romney got 4516, or that Ron Paul got 1305, or anything else.

There is no more proof of those numbers now than there was before the event!!

We have a right to know that our votes were counted correctly!!
(Heck, we keep a standard kilogram in a double glass jar at the National Bureau of Standards, to refer back to when weights are disputed!)

That was denied to everyone in this event.

"Those who cast the votes decide nothing; those who count the votes decide everything." -- Joseph Stalin

Saw on MSNBC last night they were talking about the Iowa results for what seemed like an hour and no mention of Ron Paul! They didn't even list him in the results, skipped right over him and even listed those who finished behind him. Somehow they even had Guliani over him in the results.

Sleep Dog

click the link,

http://blog.washingtonpos...

25,000 tickets sold. ( i know iknow canidates bought alot)
14,000 votes cast ( into a black box of death never to be seen again)
1,300 Ron Paul ( like a paycheck after tax's, heres whats left punk)
1 1/2 hour delay (recount 1500 votes )
1 person ( counting 17 votes per minute)
--------------------------------------------------->

if only one machine broke resulting in 1500 votes being recounted>
And! there were,

18 Voting machines.

18 (# of voting machines)
X
1500 (# of votes per machine)

=
25,000 votes likely cast ( "14,000" cast in la la land)

RON PAUL WON IN A LANDSLIDE AND HIS VOTES WERE DIVIDED AMONGST THE MONGROL HORDES!

i five year old could figure this out guys, we got robbed

?

Google trends is also going crazy...take a look at the 'news reference volume'.
The words of Zack de la Rocha are coming to my mind: "no matter how hard you try, you can't stop us now!" :P

http://www.google.com/tre...

Oo
look at this:

DailyPaul.com

http://traffic.alexa.com/...

Ronpaul2008.com

http://traffic.alexa.com/...

Our movement is growing massively since august...it will take some days to recognise it but you'll see.

You know, upon first hearing the results of the Iowa Straw Poll, I thought, well this *is* plausable, I mean the doctor didnt have a landslide but he came in respectably - BUT THEN I SAW THE VIDEOS.... I began to think hhhhhmmmmmm, how could Huckabee and Brownback have that good of a vote total but hardly any turnout in crowd numbers! Sorry, but I too am beginning to think the good doctor got "doctored" also I am a little distressed to hear there wasnt more of an accounting after people to come out of the booths and make a Ron Paul statement!
So I too am now asking myself - "Where were the Ron Paul people to prevent voter fraud from happening...."
I am beginning to think that that Video of Him after the vote had a little bit of *disgust* to it and it was hard for him to not call his fellow Republicans liars and crooks....
It is just like the Good Doctor to not make waves even at the cost of a good showing in Iowa - He probably said to himself, well next time we will be more careful and went on with his speech, not being able to disquise his disgust... it is a thought.... perhaps it was just concern for his wife that made him sound off for the evening....

does anybody else here feel like they need to see something anything any tiny little miniscule scrap of info regarding them infintessimbly small chance of anyone getting a real hard count?

in other words i want to watch a few new ron paul update videos every single minute of every day and im really bored right now cuz nothing s happing,
imean we all saw the machines broke yet not one OFFICIAL word from anyone anywhere about a hardcount, even just for shits and grins.

what happened to all those people who said they where going to do exit polls and video exit polls and take picktours of ticket stubbs and etc?
nothing...... its silent night on the web.

also i think that huckaboo and tancredo got stolen votes from those machines.
the media and US have pointed out that ron paul only spent few dollars and hours to get his votes there( ecluding of course the thousands of ours spent ONLINE spreading watching videos blogging anf mobilizing but that doesnt count either, )

but to my understanding those two ass bag clownshoe salesman had nobody there and small tents and low turnout and on and on and on.

what i think reall really happened was ron paul probly came in first by a massive landslide or came in second with 3700 and then every one else got next to nothing, like third place was 899 or something like that.
then they spent an hour coming up with a plausible soul-ution to not raise all hell with us and still CHEAT Ron paul.
so they divided up them votes all over the place and skewed the results.
and guess what. i think were buying it hook line and sinker.
5th place um shabba!

wait wait, im crazy everythings fine go back to bed,
sorry

not bad:

"The South East KY Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group

Founded Aug 12, 2007

The Knox County TN Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group

Founded Aug 12, 2007

The Blount, Loudon & Monroe Co. Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group

Founded Aug 12, 2007

The Navarre Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group

Founded Aug 12, 2007

Sacramento 95825 Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group

Founded Aug 12, 2007

The Mishawaka Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group

Founded Aug 12, 2007

University of Missouri students for Ron Paul '08

Founded Aug 12, 2007"

where is it and do they use black box voting too?

Ron Paul did *not* seem himself this-evening at the Iowan Straw Poll - I think he sounded a little desperate and over-pushed the anti-abortion issue!! This is not his main stance for running for President, peace is! But looking at the video's from Iowa he sounded like a pulpit pounding PRO-LIFER instead of leaving it up to a state to decide the issue! I think Dr. Paul should avoid getting caught up pandering to the Pro-Lifers and simply drop that issue totally - It seemed to me he was pushing to hard on that subject like he feels he will loose people if he doesnt come on like the other candidates about Pro-Life.... There are so many other issues that are important I felt a little squeemish at the beginning of his speech that made abortion sound like his number one topic. If he wants support from Democrats and Libetarians then he need to clarify his position: i.e. that if California wants to allow abortions, that is the states right and so if you live in Texas where its illegal and want an abortion you go to California (or just dont get knocked up in the first place which is my big gripe) and just kinda back away from alienating democrats and libetarians....
NOT ONLY DID HE SOUND KINDA MANIC ABOUT ABORTION that evening, I noticed he did NOT GET THE OUTSTANDING APPLAUSE he gets on other issues - he got applause, but it was not that rip-roaring applause he normally gets while on the pro-life agenda. In other words even his supports seemed a little *taken aback* about the vehemence with which he started out his speech.

Please dont alienate me and other pro-lifers - I can live with his stance that each State can make their own decisions, but when he starts a tirade against Row vs Wade it makes us pro-choice people feel uncomfortable about supporting him!!!

As a pot smoking, pro-choice-on-abortion person, I support Ron Paul completely and unhesitatingly. I don't have to agree with Dr. Paul on every issue, I trust his judgement, his consistency, his 20 years in Congress obeying his oath of office to defend the Constitution. He is intelligent, articulate, science & reason based, and he loves liberty. He understands the 9th and 10th Amendments better than anyone else. I'm a believer. Put me to work beside those pro-lifers and lets choose a President together who can respect all our liberties and perogatives under the Bill of Rights.

Here is my review of The Ames, Iowa Straw Poll:

About 26,000 people attended, though with many out-of-state supporters unable to vote, 14,302 votes were cast, a lower than expected turnout. Each voter had to pay $35 for a ballot and be an Iowa adult. The Straw Poll takes place at the sprawling Hilton Coliseum and the grounds outside in Ames, a city smack in the geographical center of Iowa. Republicans meet any year that a new Republican Presidential candidate needs to be chosen, in this case for the 2008 campaign, and try to thin out the field by measuring support. Those who fail in the Ames Straw Poll often quit the race.

Those on the Straw Poll ballot, in alphabetical order, were:

a) Senator Sam Brownback, currently representing neighboring state of Kansas, a religious conservative (Creationist),

b) John Cox, an Illinois accountant of no importance who has paid the $25,000 fee to compete for the nomination,

c) Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor of New York from 1993 to 2001, and the nation's leading jailer of marijuana users in that time (350,000 arrests of pot smokers in those 8 years),

d) Mike Huckabee, Arkansas Governor from 1989 to 2001, religious conservative (Creationist),

e) Duncan Hunter, US Congressman from California's 4th District, former Chairman of the Armed Forces Committee,

f) John McCain, Senator from Arizona, Vietnam prisoner of war for 5 years from 1967 - 1973,

g) Mitt Romney, wealthy scion of George Romney, a Republican heavyweight from the the 1960's,is a former Masssachusetts Governor, a Mormon, and brains behind the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics,

h) Ron Paul, 10-term US Congressman from Texas 14th district, a libertarian Republican, Lutheran, The Champion of the Constitution,

i) Tom Tancredo, US Congressman from Colorado, religious conservative (Creationist),

j) Fred Thompson, Law & Order actor, one-time Senator of Tennessee,
and
k) Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health in the first George Bush administration, former governor of neighboring Wisconsin.

Mitt Romney is esimated to have spent $3 million to $6 million dollars in Iowa leading up to Ames Straw Poll, only to be able to bus in 4,516 votes, an average cost of $750 to $1,250 per vote received! Romney hired a fleet of over 100 buses, many only half full, to bring in the Republican hard core.

Mitt Romney was first in the Straw Poll at 31.6% 4,516 votes of 14,302 cast. This is more of a failure for Romney than a victory. Attendence was down from the 1989 and 1999 Straw Polls, considerably, meaning all Romney's money could not excite the Republican base to come and vote at the straw poll in any significant volume. Romney spent up to $5 million, Mike Huckabee spent $150,000 leading up to the Straw Poll, Ron Paul spent about $220,000, Sam Brownback spent over $500,000. Ballots cost $35 each but each campaign was allowed to buy any number of votes to hand out to the faithful!

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was the real winner in second place for 18.1% of the vote, 2,587 votes.

Mike Huckabee spent $150,000, leaving just a little more than that in his thin campaign war-chest, but came out with more votes per dollar spent than the much larger campaign budgets of Sam Brownback and Mitt Romney.

Huckabee is the big winner at Ames. Romney came in first but he really lost because the obscene amount of money spent to get 4,516 votes is shocking and embarrassing just to "win" a non-binding, very regional test of one's campaign support. Huckabee polled strongly despite a low key, modest cost campaign.

Sam Brownback is a Senator from neighboring Kansas state, and came in third with 15.3% of the votes cast, 2,192 votes.

Spending much more than Huckabee, Brownback had lavish large pavilion tents and a fleet of buses to bring Iowans to Ames, but three creationists (Brownback, Huckabee, Tancredo) and one Mormon are lobbying for the religious conservative vote. Brownback has Mormon Romney and Creationist Huckabee ahead of him, and a surprisingly strong showing by relative unknown Tom Tancredo just behind him. Brownback's campaign will be challenged to put a good light on this outcome. Huckabee and Tancredo got a big boost, Brownback essentially stalled with his base.

Iowa Republicans are largely anti-abortion, pro-war, and the three Creationists at the Straw Poll polled 47% of the vote between them. With Mormon Romney added, 78% of votes went to Creationists/Mormon candidates. That shows us that Iowa Republicans probably tip the scales into "extreme social conservatives."

Tom Tancredo received 1,961 votes for 13.7% of the votes cast. This may be the biggest surprise. Tom Tancredo has recently said that the USA should bomb Islamic holy cities if there is another terrorist attack on the USA. Tancredo's campaign is a one note thing, he's AGAINST illegal immigration, in a big, loud way, and this Iowa base rewarded his Creationist and anti-immigration positions.

Tom Tancredo, I want to note, has supported State's Rights to Medical Marijuana by voting for the Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment each year. As a Presidential candidate, he's an animated wild-eyed extremist with a limited menu of positions, but he maxed out on them in the right forum here at Ames.

With hard-core fundamentalists getting 78% of the Ames Straw Poll, how did Ron Paul do?

Coming in fifth, Ron Paul received 1,305 votes for 9.1%

In his podium speech, Paul established his Lutheran bonafides at the outset, speaking about his pro-life beliefs, his position against illegal immigration and birthright citizenship. He then moved on the Constitution, the war, the defence of liberty. Ron Paul's supporters were very visible and loud and with alot of great signs.

Ron Paul only opened his campaign in Iowa earlier this week, and had two of his largest fundraisers in his campaign so far. Ron Paul spent $220,000 on the Ames Straw Poll, including television ads. Yet Ron Paul raised over $110,000 this week in Iowa, the best fundraising total for the week of the 11 Republicans. Coming in a solid fifth, Ron Paul established that he has a foothold in the race and probably will derive more momentum from the Straw Poll than anyone else but Mike Huckabee. 9% is a solid beginning in a state that is hardly the best prospect for Dr. Paul's campaign. New Hampshire and Nevada primaries should be better. Dr. Paul got his relatively new message out in Iowa in all the mainstream media, as he was interviewed extensively.

Congressman Paul spent the entire week campaigning tirelessly. Only Romney and Paul bought television advertising in the week preceding the Straw Poll. Carol Paul, Dr. Paul's wife of over 50 years, was hospitalized for exhaustion Saturday, just before the Straw Poll opened.Ron Paul's support visibly appeared larger as hundreds of out of state supporters trekked to Ames (smack in the middle of the Hawkeye state) to hold signs, eat Romney's barbecue, and buttonhole Romney supporters, and share the vibe.

Because Ron Paul's internet base has INTENSITY, Ron Paul's competitive status was never at risk as his campaign is still developing its own unique momentum. Fifth was good enough.

Paul's fifth place showing is the first sign in the voter marketplace that Ron Paul is not only an internet phenomenon, but that he can mobilize feet into voter booths. Further, Paul's campaign demonstrated they can spend money in conventional politics and make some waves. Mainstream media coverage for Dr. Paul has soared in recent weeks.

Dr. Paul is the bottom line in the Straw Poll however. After Ron Paul's fifth place showing, its all wreckage beyond him.

After promising to bow out if he did not come in first or second, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson received 1,039 votes for a 7.3% showing for a sixth place. Thompson's bank account is empty, and Wisconsin is a neighbouring state. If he can't do well in Iowa - and Tommy is a nice guy - he's conceding defeat. He'll announce his campaign is over in the next 48 hours.

The Straw Poll knocks out Thompson, who campaigned in all 109 counties. Tommy Thompson, who promised to stop raids on medical-cannabis patients if elected President, was Health Secretary for George Bush from 2000 - 2004.

Scratch #6 candidate.

Way down in votes at 7th position was stalking-horse candidate Fred Thompson, a TV actor and undistinguished one term Senator from Tennessee, with only 203 votes and 1.4% of the votes. Fred Thompson mingled in Iowa a few days this week but his 203 votes does him no favors. This is a dubious showing for a phantom candidate.

Ghouliani, as Ron Paul Revolutionaries have taken to referring to Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, received 183 votes for 1.3% of the vote. The Ghoul did not campaign or participate because these devout social conservatives would have ripped him to shreds so he didn't run the gauntlet here. 183 votes of 14,320 cast is a poor showing. I think thats a sign that in the cornbelt and the south, Giuliani has some obstacles in this contest.

However, Fred Thompson is still testing the waters, is flush with millions in cash, and has a fan-base. Giuliani has $15 million in the bank.

US REP. Duncan Hunter, coming in ninth with 174 votes, 1.3% of those cast, did appallingly poor. Hunter is a Congressman from California's 4th district and is a war hawk.

I have run for office numerous occasions and when I campaign in rural, farming, or small communities, I wear jeans, a clean working mans shirt, cowboy boots if I have them, and I get rid of slick, big city talk and behavior. When you campaign in the heartland, everyone is just regular folks. In resource towns and rural farming communities, no one owned a suit that I could tell. If I would have shown up in my Armani suit (which I wear for media and city appearances), I would have been treated as if I were from THE CITY or some place far away from heartland reality - and I would INSTANTLY lose any credibility with these people.

I could tell Duncan Hunter did not belong in Iowa. Slick suit everywhere he went. He obviously doesn't hang around farmers much. He just wasn't comfortable and he didn't fit in. It was a crushing end to Hunter's invisible campaign and he too will inevitably announce his withdrawl from the race later this week. Scratch #9.

John McCain in certain ways defines "walking wounded". He looks dignified but stiff, uncomfortable, his facial skin stretched too tight over that skull. He's broke, tearing through $13 million so far this year, with peanuts left in the bank ( perhaps only a million dollars), and his showing here shows a complete lack of connection with this kind of heartland audience. John McCain came in tenth with 101 votes. 07% of the votes cast.

This is awful for McCain. He did not officially campaign at Ames and thus did not participate in the convention-like atmosphere. He made no impact, has no supporters here, no campaign, no money. He is considered a has-been. Ames will further damage McCain's ability to raise money.

Scratch #10 McCain. It won't be immediately, but McCain will be out by November or December when he sees that he just won't have the money to compete in the January - March primaries, which will require $5-$10 million minimum in the bank without bills by December 31.

A Illinois accountant named John Cox got 44 votes for .03% of the votes cast, sparing former "front-runner" McCain the extremely humilating close call of being "Dead" last at Ames.

Scratch John Cox, #11, later this summer.

Official Campaign Website