On Saturday, his 76th birthday, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas won the New Hampshire Young Republicans presidential straw poll.
Paul took 45 percent of the 302 votes cast while former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, who is leading in the Granite State, took second place with 10 percent.
Ron Pauls message of traditional conservatism -- fiscal restraint, limited government, and strong national defense -- is clearly the future of the Republican Party, said state Sen. Jim Forsythe, Pauls New Hampshire chairman who spoke at the event. The other candidates know that and sound more like him every day. But there are convenient copies, and theres the real thing.
It takes more than a sound bite and a flip-flop to fool New Hampshire voters, added Forsythe. Thats why theres real momentum here for Ron Paul.
Despite his lead in almost every poll of New Hampshire, Romney ignored the event. So did Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. Their campaigns did not send representatives to the event and they did not set up tables.
Perry of Texas and U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan tied for third with 8 percent followed by former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico with 6 percent. Two favorites of the tea party -- businessman Herman Cain and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota -- took 5 percent each. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, Santorum of Pennsylvania and former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana garnered 3 percent each. Gingrich, with two write-in candidates, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin each took 1 percent. Activist Fred Karger took less than 1 percent.
Some of the dark horses in the race looked to trumpet their showings in the event.
A good showing at the New Hampshire Young Republicans Straw Poll this weekend, insisted the Johnson camp, who pointed to the fact their candidate placed fifth out of a field of 14.
Roemer, who did his first town hall event in New Hampshire in Dover on Monday, was in attendance and shared his thoughts on it on Facebook.
Had an awesome time at the New Hampshire Young Republicans Lobster Bake today, noted Roemer. Although I do not waste my time with straw polls, it was nice to know I tied Jon Huntsman and Rick Santorum and beat Newt Gingrich and Fred Karger.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
