Mitt Romney wins Illinois straw poll
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney
(CNN)–Mitt Romney added another straw poll victory to his resume Thursday.
Illinois state Republican party chairman, Andy McKenna, said Romney won the Illinois Straw poll at the Illinois State Fair. "Congratulations to Mitt Romney, whose strong showing today indicates he has begun to put together a strong statewide organization," McKenna said. "There's no question that Illinois' demographics closely match those of the United States and this could be an indication as to whom Illinois voters are leaning toward this coming February."
Romney secured an overwhelming victory with 40.35 percent of the vote. Former Senator Fred Thompson, who is expected to formally enter the race for the GOP nomination next month, came in second with 19.96 percent of the vote.
The Illinois Republican party sponsored the straw poll during its Republican Day festivities at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.
To be included, participate candidates were required to have participated in one of the previously held debates with other Republican candidates, or have polled above 5 percent in a national, independent poll.
Final results of Thursday's Illinois straw poll:
1. Mitt Romney – 40.35%
2. Fred Thompson – 19.96%
3. Ron Paul – 18.87%
4. Rudy Giuliani – 11.61%
5. John McCain – 4.12%
6. Mike Huckabee – 3.04%
7. Sam Brownback – 1.08%
8. Duncan Hunter – .65%
9. Tom Tancredo – .33%
–CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford
Congratulations to Ron Paul for winning the Stafford County, NH, straw poll, too, with over 70% of the vote.
Mainstream media is quickly proving how irrelevant it really is! No reporting on Ron Paul coming in 3rd in Illinois AND winning the NH AND Alabama straw polls this weekend? Why the blackout? We volunteers for Paul are doing your work for you, informing the people about our candidate, there are more of us than there are of you all. We'll win in spite of you.
the lamestream media’s gone mad, been mad for yonks… i hold the paper faces of the chosen ones to the floor, but every day the paperboy brings more. [a bit cynical roger, eh?]
everywhere i look, the lamestream media is howling about the tier 3 paul’s climb in the race for top dog of the u s of a; they lambaste against the mighty goliaths and their war chests which have come to naught. most disturbing is all of the media attention given to this, this, defender of that holier-than-thou piece of clinking, clanking, constitutional mishmash. who are these brick-n-mortar institutions that dare to hold up an icon that would restore individual freedom to live unencumbered by those who have amassed an infinite supply of carbon credits?
come along mitt and rudy: have a cigar, you’re gonna go far… they’re gonna love you.
ann?!, michelle?!, rush?! …
It is laughable to say that any of these guys has "won" or lost the straw poll – Mitt Romney with his millions was able to purchase every ticket for every one voting for him. Not only that but he also rented buses and provided food for them as well...So would you call that a real win? or a real bargain? SERIOUSLY... Anytime you buy someone's vote I wouldn't call it democratic.
Ron Paul is like the renegade Texan who wants to secede from the Union. The Libertarian/Separatist whose credo is "do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law". He's cool and appeals to the free spirits, but I think Americans are really a bunch of wimps. They don't like change THAT much. When push comes to shove, I think people are afraid of him.
How come the TV News Media have been ignoring Ron Paul??? He won in the Alabama Sraw Poll by a large margin, and came in 3rd in Illinois. Fred Thompson shouldn't have even been able to participate because he wasn't in any of the Presidential Debates. And the Iowa Straw Poll results have been refuted as fishy – as the results seem to have been tabulated by 'the hairy hand behind the curtain of the Diebold e-voting machines'. Ron Paul has led every single Post Republican Presidential Debate viewer poll from every network. So why are the Networks obviously attempting to obfuscate these results? That is the Real News question.
"3) So Romney's campaign helped people pay to attend the straw poll and you think this means he must therefore have no support? Remind me, where did that money come from? Oh, yeah, the donations of American supporters who helped make his campaign earn more money by far than any other GOP campaign."
Or the $9 million he donated to himself when his cash on hand was dropping to levels nearly second tier-ish, perhaps? Loser
And the burnt biscuit award goes to CNN! For their unfair press and blatant dismissal of the only candidate TRULY representing the interests of the PEOPLE- not just buy-offs and corporate interests! Stick it to 'em Ron Paul! Great job so far!
RonPaul2008.com
Do yourselves a favor and check it out folks!
Darn near 2nd place for Ron Paul! Keep it up Ron! "Just Bring it Home!"
Ron Paul wins Alabama, New Hampshire, and North Carolina Straw Polls. I couldnt find it on CNN though, or NBCFOXABC for that matter.
Romney reminds me of Martin Sheen's presidential character in "The Dead Zone." Ron Paul is the real deal. I'm impressed.
That Ron Paul with almost no media attention walloped Rudy and McCain is a HUGE story.
Go Ron Paul!
POLLS WERE PAID FOR.
NOT DEMOCRACY.
NOT EVEN A REPUBLIC.