August 13, 2011 - 3:43 pm
With a sizable turnout about 3,000 votes greater than organizers expected, 16,892 total votes cast, Rep. Michele Bachmann wins the Ames Straw Poll. More results as they come in.
Rep. Ron Paul placed second, and Gov. Tim Pawlenty placed third.
Update: Ace has real numbers. Bachmann beat Paul by a couple hundred votes and doubled up on Pawlenty, who picked up just under 2300 votes. Interestingly, Gov. Rick Perry picked up over 700 write-in votes, putting him a dash ahead of Romney.
So the big news is Perry. Interesting.
Pawlenty was toast several weeks ago.
“I don’t understand how Ron Paul can win the straw poll if it costs money to vote. Doesn’t that cut into his supporters’ dope, Cheetos and comic book money?”
Comment #34 at the link responding:
“I’ve been saving for four years for this. And borrowed a little from my mom.”
Thread winner! LOL
Bachmann gave out 6000 ballots, and got 4800 votes. Looks like the Paulies scammed her some. Cost her $36k. Entirely predictable.
Doesn’t matter, though. Like Huckabee, she came in first, and it will be a big boost to her campaign, just as it was for Huck. The important thing is that she totally smoked Pawlenty, since they fight for the same demographic. She has established herself as top dog in that contest.
After years of prepping for this election, Pawlenty lost to a Congresscritter. Pretty pathetic. He just cannot seem to get any real traction. His funding should dry up after this. He better start looking for the VP job.
Actually, Huckabee came in second in the 2007 Ames Straw Poll. The thing is, though, that was the story, not Romney winning it. That Place catapulted him to a win in the Iowa Caucuses. And that is why Romney, against all good advice, didn’t participate in the Ames Straw Poll this time.
Right. I knew that. seriously, I did. Huck won the caucus in January. I conflated the two things. Totally my bad. Thanks.
WHAT?!?! Jon Huntsman did not win in a landslide?
who?
As a Minnesotan it pains me to admit that Pawlenty is no longer a viable candidate. I also don’t think that Michelle is a viable candidate in a nationwide election, though I would certainly vote for her if she is the nominee. I honestly think that we’re going to have another Texan vying for the white house, and I will gladly vote for him if that’s the case. Anybody but Obama. ANYBODY.
Why should I care who won the Iowa Straw Poll? How good a predictor is the straw poll of who will win the GOP nomination?
Wake me when something meaningful happens, such as the start of the actual primaries next year.
Who cares about an event where only 16000 people vote, and 95% of them are PAID to do it? It means nothing, nada, zip, zilch, zero.
If I was a candidate, I would go to the debate on Thursday, then go to the Red State Conference in South Carolina, where there is a national audience.
How in the hell does this post get a link on Instapundit?
Scratching my head…
AFAIK, the PJM sites can cross thread with each other in some faintly incestuous way.
I’m a BC’er but in the past I have posted on other PJM blogs thinking I was at the Club. I think that was fixed but I’m not sure. Sometimes I see posts that can’t be related to the topic de’ jour. Where do the posts that you think were deleted go? For that matter, where do the deleted posts go?
Since blogs make money on traffic, wouldn’t deleting a post be like throwing money away?
Do you hear that sound?
That clicking?
That is thousands of people adding Pawlenty to the Spam filter.
HeHeHe
Perry/Bachmann 2012!!!
I think I like the sound of Bachman/Perry even better.
Perry/Bachman…Bachman/Perry…YOU BETCHA!!!!!
Lets see! I’m betting they would appoint, I mean annoint, Richard Roberts Secretary of State and all the other cabinet positions filled by annointed evangelical evangelists. Problems! What problems?
Troll, Thomas, troll.
Because I am a proud Texan who likes to make Texan jokes, beware. Whatever you guys say about the Gov, you’re likely to be wrong. He really could fly Air Force One by himself if necessary.Texas does have more jobs than anybody and growing even if they aren’t fantastic enough for Californians. We really have (0)income tax. The secession thing was a joke, was funny, and IS a damned good idea. We also have more wind power plus a huge surplus from Austin— Harvested. If it wasn’t for leftie BS it would power all of Dallas. We like our Mexicans, legal and illegal, and you don’t much see them rioting. Our popular Kaye Bailey was going to put the gov in his place oooops. Some lefty from Houston—ooooops again. I have to stay in the closet to be a Bachman or Palin guy but if I have to jump in for the Gov, Why Not?