Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illinois-gop-fundraising-straw-poll-goes-to-ron-paul-20111105,0,3298734.story

Article

By Rick PearsonTribune reporter

9:10 p.m. CDT, November 5, 2011

With the general election one year out and Illinois’ relevance in the Republican primary season questionable, state GOP officials sought to build some campaign excitement by holding their first fundraising statewide straw poll.

The winner announced Saturday night was TexasRep. Ron Paul, who got 52 percent of the more than 3,649 ballots cast.

Anyone from Illinois making a $5 donation to the state GOP could take part in the poll, either online through voting that began Oct. 29, or in person Saturday at more than a dozen county Republican headquarters across the state.

Finishing behind Paul’s 1,907 votes was businessmanHerman Cain with 670 votes or 18 percent; former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 515 votes or 14 percent; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 332 votes or 9 percent; Texas Gov.Rick Perry with 87 votes or 2.5 percent; former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman with 54 votes or 1.5 percent; former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 43 votes or 1.2 percent; and Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann with 41 votes or 1.1 percent.

Paul traditionally has done well in online polling and won 66.5 percent of the 2,743 on-line votes cast, but only 8 percent of the 906 in-person ballots cast Saturday. Among in-person voting, Romney led with 35 percent to Cain’s 29 percent.

State GOP Chair Pat Brady and Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk of Highland Park said they hoped the straw poll would become a tradition and draw presidential contenders to the state for more than just fundraising.

Comment:

Speaks for itself!

Good Luck to all!