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DEL.ICIO.USStraw poll: Fred Thompson is the candidate of their discontent
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the state Republican convention de-camped, the sponsors of a presidential straw poll in which 429 delegates participated declared unannounced candidate Fred Thompson by 44 percent.
Consider it yet another sign — like fights over a budget veto and immigration — of restlessness among the base.
Thompson came within three votes of matching all those gathered by Mitt Romney, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich put together.
The poll was jointly conducted by the Young Republicans and the Republican Liberty Caucus of Georgia.
The results were as follows:
Fred Thompson — 188 votes, or 44 percent
Newt Gingrich — 77, or 18 percent
Rudy Giuliani — 64, or 15 percent
Mitt Romney — 40, or 9 percent
Mike Huckabee — 18, or 4 percent
Duncan Hunter — 10, or 2.3 percent
John McCain — 10, or 2.3 percent
Ron Paul — 8, or 1.9 percent
Tommy Thompson — 6, or 1.4 percent
Tom Tancredo — 4, or .9 percent
Sam Brownback — 2, or .5 percent
John Cox — 2, or .5 percent
Jim Gilmore — 0, or 0 percent
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By davefromfulton
May 19, 2007 3:00 PM | Link to this
Interesting. I just got home from the convention and I didn’t vote because I knew nothing about this poll. I have no idea when or where it was conducted. For what it’s worth, I would have voted for McCain.
By Marge
May 19, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this
Heck, I don’t know much about Fred Thompson but if he supports securing our border and deporting illegal aliens and their anchor babies, then he’s my man. Guilliani and McCain are definitely out.
By tony robbins
May 19, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this
So, Fred Thompson, who is not even a fulltime announced candidate yet, dominates a straw poll in a state with all these Romney big shots and Newt trying to claim GA still - he wins this thing overwhelmingly?!!!
Give it up guys. Thompson will be our next President.
By ga gop
May 19, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
Does anyone know where or how this vote was done? I was there both days and I didn’t see anything about it or vote in it.
By glad_alec_is_gone
May 19, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
There was a straw poll at the same convention I attended??? That’s news to me.
By Romney gal
May 19, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
My husband and I are Romney supporters and didn’t see anything about this straw poll at the convention. Obviously we would have voted in it for Mitt.
By anon
May 19, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
America needs Fred. we must stop this open borders madness.
By jillchambers
May 19, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this
Two groups taking the straw poll ballots at the YR and RLC booths. Conventioneers had to pass by at least one of them to get into the convention hall when they entered through the vendor section. The ballots were collected during both days of the convention.
By Ray
May 19, 2007 7:29 PM | Link to this
“Fred Thompson by 44 percent”??? What exactly does the “by” mean? Looks to me like it was Fred Thompson “by” 26 percent. Morons.
By Ray
May 19, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this
What does “by 44 percent” mean?? He won WITH 44 percent and BY 26 percent. Idiots.
By GabrielSterling
May 19, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this
There were two locations to vote. It was pretty obvious about where they were. This is a huge win for Thompson.
Over half the delegates voted.
Fred will be the nominee.
By GabrielSterling
May 19, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this
There were two locations to vote. It was pretty obvious about where they were. This is a huge win for Thompson.
Over half the delegates voted.
Fred will be the nominee.
By Holly, Delegate to Convention
May 19, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this
I saw two tables where the vote was happening and they were pretty full of delegates voting. If it’s true that over half the delegates at the convention voted, it sounds like most people saw it.
I know that when i voted they marked my delegate badge so that i couldn’t vote again. i appreciated how strict the rules were on this to prevent double-voting. I voted for mitt romney, and i know he’ll lose, but like him.
But no one here can take anything away from the Thompson folks. That room was packed with those draft stickers and t shirts, and i think we all saw that.
By drjay
May 19, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
if you did ANY browsing at the vending tables you would have come across the straw poll voting—they were in 2 spots, and it was announced that there was going to be a straw poll—but whatever…over 400 of the delegates were apparently able to track it down
By drjay
May 19, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this
if you did ANY browsing at the vending tables you would have come across the straw poll voting—they were in 2 spots, and it was announced that there was going to be a straw poll—but whatever…over 400 of the delegates were apparently able to track it down
By hjh
May 19, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this
I attended convention…had no idea about the “poll”. I would have voted for Rudy.
By Winghunter
May 20, 2007 4:29 AM | Link to this
3 votes short of matching ALL that gathered..Wow! Run, Fred, RUN!!!
( Pssst, Who’s Roy the rocket scientist? Check your batteries in your calculator pal…LOL!!! Amazing, really. )
By Ragnar Danneskjold
May 20, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
Run, Fred, Run!!!
Stop the madness in Washington!
By ga gop
May 20, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
where were the two voting locations in the exhibit hall? I honestly didn’t see them.
By Jim Taggart
May 20, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
Stop Fred Now!
By Mike
May 20, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
The vote was done at the Young Republican booth. There was an auto call to all delegates and each major campaign was informed.
By Gabriel Sterling
May 20, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Sign the Georgia online petition to Draft Fred Thompson here:
http://www.ga4fred.com/
If we continue our grassroots work, we’ll likely see FDT get in before July.
By glad_alecs_gone
May 20, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Not to beat a dead horse, BUT I WAS a delegate and I did NOT receive an autocall. I’m sure Fred would have won regardless, but to say that everyone was informed and knew this was going on is misleading.
By sspence
May 20, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
I always thought that if President Bush had been tougher on illegal immigration the Republicans would not have lost the majority in the Senate and House in the 2006 elections. I think that Americans are more concerned about our southern borders not being secured than the Iraq war. If the Republicans in Congress don’t wake up and be more responsive to their constituents on this issue the Republicans will lose even more seats in the next election.
By Artg
May 20, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
You had to walk right by the table in the Vendors area as you entered the Convention Hall. It was announced by the Convention Chairman that the polls were being taken. Everyone that was there should have heard about it.
By Delegate from Cobb
May 20, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
There were two tables with big signs that said “Vote in Presidential Straw Poll” or something like that. I did not get the auto call, but it was very easy to figure out that the poll was going on and security was great. No ballot if you didn’t surrender your credentials to be marked. If you missed it, then you weren’t paing attention.
By sbcprchr
May 21, 2007 5:40 AM | Link to this
I am struck by the number of people who attended this convention but either didn’t know about or couldn’t find the place to vote. You almost sound like you think it is someone else’s fault that you didn’t/couldn’t vote. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? This may be a commentary on the quality of the delegates, not the convention or polsters. I would EXPECT there would be some type of vote or poll…straw or otherwise. Remember Florida 2000? If you didn’t/couldn’t vote, don’t lay the blame on someone else’s door. Get informed before you show up and miss a vote.