Ron Paul came in a strong second at Saturday’s straw poll in Ames, Iowa.
The Congressman gained 27.65% of the vote, closely missing Michele Bachmann’s 28.56% by only 152 votes, but easily surpassing Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and other candidates.
Ames Straw Poll Results
- 28.56% (4,823 votes) – Michele Bachmann
- 27.65% (4,671 votes) – Ron Paul
- 13.57% (2,293 votes) – Tim Pawlenty
- 9.81% (1,657 votes) – Rick Santorum
- 8.62% (1,456 votes) – Herman Cain
- 4.25% (718 votes) – Rick Perry (write-in)
- 3.36% (567 votes) – Mitt Romney
- 2.28% (385 votes) – Newt Gingrich
- 0.41% (69 votes) – Jon Huntsman
- 0.21% (35 votes) – Thaddeus McCotter
- Of the remaining 218 votes, 162 were presumably cast for random minor write-in candidates, and 56 were presumably invalid.
16,892 total votes.
Ron Paul’s campaign chairman Jesse Benton said:
“Dr. Paul is surging in this race, and today’s results show the strength of his grassroots support and top notch organization. These straw poll results, our growing poll numbers and our strong fundraising shows that our message is resonating with Iowans and Americans everywhere.
Our message was the same in 2007 as it is in now in 2011, but this time we have quadrupled our support. That means our message is spreading, our support is surging, and people are taking notice. We are uniting a coalition of longtime supporters, fiscal conservatives, constitutional conservatives, independents, tea party and anti-big government activists to take on the Washington establishment.
Today, Ron Paul has emerged as a top tier candidate and is a serious contender to win the Republican nomination and the Presidency.“
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Great job in Iowa – Ron Paul Supporters! Just wanted you to know that I have never seriously looked at Ron Paul as a candidate before but due to the debate and stuff on Fox today (though too limited) I started looking up more and more information on his sites as well as elsewhere. I sent links to my family as well. I have heard about his ‘extremes’… that is what so many folks hear about but not about the history he seems to know so much about. He makes so much sense and he is getting an amazing forum now. At the debate it seemed like he did stand alone among all the rest. I am not from Iowa… I am in South Carolina…and you have turned my head. There are a lot of us out here that just want the truth and want the liberty he speaks of. You guys have gotten the message a lot further than you think!
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Sandy,
Glad you did your own research and made your decision on your own, most of the rest of us got here the same way, truth is easy to follow.
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Amen Sandy,
spread that good news!!!!!
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Unfortunately Ron Paul is bad at explaining the difference between him and someone like Bachmann.
There’s absolutely no substance in that woman’ s speeches but she is better able to connect to regular people by throwing around slogans like “Obama is a one term president. I will fight for you etc…”
Paul marginalizes himself on stage during the debates by not really participating in them.
He keeps saying “we need to go back to the constitution, restore liberty and audit the Fed” but regular people need to hear HOW what the other candidates are doing violates that constitution, for instance.
When regular people realize that by voting the way they do they will get more of the same then the Ron Paul Revolution will really take off.
So it’s not the message but unfortunately it’s the Messenger.
When given the golden chance at debates to connect to the nation, like the one two days before the Iowa straw poll, Ron Paul can’t effectively speak to the hearts of regular folks, really showing them what the difference between him and other candidates is…
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Joe,
I agree with some of your points about Ron Paul’s message. But I personally love the fact that he doesn’t use hollow slogans like Bachmann does (and especially Sarah Palin). I want to grind my teeth whenever I hear them! But I agree that he needs to refocus his tactics because sometimes he sounds repetitive with his talk about the fed and the constitution.
But I think he did much better this time than the last debate he was in a couple of months ago. Last time I remember thinking that he talked too much about the fed. I wished he would say something else. Also, he needs to talk specifically about how he will fix unemployment in ways that people can fully envision. I couldn’t find anything on his campaign website about the unemployment issue! He talks about the economy and workers unions, but I couldn’t find anything on job creation. If he always talks about where the problem started in the first place, then I have trouble understanding what exactly he will do about it and how his plan will specifically create jobs. Creating a picture would be nice because right now it is tough to envision how things will get better.
Just my two cents.
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The little party dweebs are out already trying to diminish Ron’s showing, wish Ron would tell the GOP to shove it, worthless baggage.
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I was at the event and it looked like a landslide for dr. Paul. I didn’t see many Bachmann supporters actually. Everyone is kinda shocked about it. Let liberty ring.
Ron Paul 2012!
»crosslinked«
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Is anyone challenging the vote count? Seems suspiciously close to me. Bachmann’s people shouldn’t be trusted.
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Where was Michelle 2 or 4 or even 30 years ago talkin about this stuff, RON PAUL WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT FOR THIRTY YEARS WAS SAYING THIS STUFF N NEVER CHANGES HIS VOTE AND U CAN’T BUY HIS VOTE, he’s never voted to raise taxes and never voted for the debt, the troops support Ron Paul more than all of the cannadates combined, wut does that tell u? He even gives his own money to treasury to try to pay off the debt, he knows all about economy and more than all the cannadates combined also, RESTORE THE REPUBLIC AND PRESERVE LIBERTY AND CULTIVATE PEACE AND HARMONY WITH ALL… if we don’t get out of ppl business across te world then only more hatrid will b aimed at us GOD BLESS ALL AND RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT
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YEA!! I can feel the American spirit coming back already! The spirit of true democracy and the core values of our great nation.
Great job Dr. Paul, keep up the great work and I will be rooting (and voting) for you all the way to the finish line. Let’s bring our boys and girls home once and for all!
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It’s not 27 vs. 28 percent. Those are just a few votes that don’t really matter. But it’s 27.65 today vs. 9.1 percent in 2007. We’re clearly heading for President Paul. A historic night. Finally!
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Guess Rand Paul should build upon that 27.65% . Got to go strength to strength. Look what happens when you ignore and stop fighting for your beliefs. You get the policies of Nixon, Bush and Obama. Got keep fighting and maintain what you have and consolidate.
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YEA!! I can feel the American spirit coming back already! The spirit of a true democracy.
Great job Dr. Paul, I will be rooting (and voting) for you all the way to the finish line. Keep up the good work and godspeed.
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Keep doing what you’re doing Dr. Paul….TELLING THE TRUTH!!!!
It may take a while for everyone to figure out, but if we all just keep telling the truth we can help others CONNECT THE DOTS.
Brilliant job. Congratulations Dr. Paul!!!!
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Woooo, WE are behind you Ron Paul, keep up the good work, you have our support!
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Ron,
Go after on her support of the patriot act… how can she claim to be a T-party leader when she wants that monstrosity made permanent?
Nuke her with the facts, she doesn’t support or defend the Constitution, period… lay it out in plain old Constitutional English .. she is a traitor to the Constitution and Bill of Rights… and point out she gets most of the main street news coverage and that is well documented.. fair and balanced, yep right… keep up the good work
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Dr. Paul shouldn’t attack Bachmann, if you look at the poll, you could say the neocons (status quo) have 72% to Paul’s 28%. Bachmann is a Tea Party favorite, and everyone knows that Ron is the father of the Tea Party, and if Perry takes votes away from her and Romney and Paul becomes the front-runner, the establishment will try and force two of the three out of the race to beat Paul. So Paul may need to sway some or all of her votes to win.
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With Perry in the race now, he’ll take votes away from Bachman and Romney leaving a clear path to the nomination.
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Gday!
Ron Paul is a unique character in politics today. He never dodges a question, he is polite and has the ability to articulate his position clearly, and in a manner that is easily understandable by all who hear him.
It would be nice to think our politicians here in Australia are watching his progress, however our media never mentions Ron. Even with our ABC correspondant in the US following the debates, there is very little mention, no matter how well Ron polls. However they never fail to mention Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney & all the others. Even Sara Palin gets more press & she hasnt nominated yet.
Looks like the media machine, doesnt want to be part of the revolution, I guess they like it just how it is.
Good luck Ron!!
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Brian…you are SO right. The media controls everything the American people hear, and it is usually a load of bull. All we are hearing about on the news is that Perry will now be the winner since he earned a whopping 700 votes without even being at the straw poll.
Ron Paul is the most articulate and intelligent candidate, and I really loved his ability to not spend his speech time bashing anyone. Just tell me what you are going to do! Well done Ron!
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Where were the Sarah Palin write-ins, to bad a couple hundred didn’t write her name on a ballot, we would have won then.
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Congratulations, Ron Paul!
A squeaky-close second place win (within 1%!) is a stunning achievement, especially given the monolithic across-the-board opposition to your candidacy by the Mainstream Media. It will be fun to see how they try to spin THIS one away.
Well done, Dr. Paul – you have LOTS of people out here rooting for you – GO GO GO!
Ron Paul – America only hope in 2012.
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wOw that is CLOSE!! Congrats Dr. Paul and supporters!! Everyone really needs to turn it on now though, he needs Americas help more than ever now. People are beginning to recognize what independence means and what it looks like again in this country. Its a proud moment for us all in these bleak times. A little bit of light in the middle of a disaster area. Thank you Ron Paul for UNITING us. We’ll bring those troops home yet! To ignore him now is to deny what is staring you in the eye. Woot!!
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Had she not consistently played the “I’m from Iowa” card, Ron would have won. Just wait until NH, if he finishes in the top two again he’s on his way to the nomination.
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Bachmann sounds like a broken record of sound bytes to me. She’d never get my vote.
I’m voting for Ron Paul no matter what happens between now and the election.
It was a very close 2nd place for Ron, and a very good showing of Ron Paul.
So I’m going to celebrate this as a complete victory.
Good job Ron!
Ron Paul 2012!
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I hear you, Ryan.
I will go skinny-dipping in a septic tank before I vote for ANYONE who used to be an IRS (the Federal Reserve’s collection agency) Tax Attorney.
I don’t care how many bumper-sticker sound-bytes they parrot.
In New Hampshire, Ron Paul will beat Michelle Bachmann like a DRUM. Heck – he came within 1% of getting her in her own home state!
Ron Paul 2012! – Or else welcome to Global Bankster Serfdom.
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Exactly!
New Hampshire here we come!
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Ron Paul is doing a good job on keeping his message positive.
Vote Ron Paul 2012
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LOL, People like McCain, Graham, Snow, Romney et al are chewing rolaids like candy…..GOOD. And Sarah, stay out, we don’t need another status quo Republican, all you party people prepare to get schooled about the power of truth.
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WOOHOO!! Congratulations, Dr. Paul!!!
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Less than 1% between them with all the media against you. You are the bomb.
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The Media is pushing for other people but EVERYONE I know is voting for RON PAUL. I watched the debate and the crowd cheered every time he spoke and had an 80% approval rating (the highest) during the debate while Mitt Romney only had 20%!!
Don’t let the media fool you! Get informed! It doesn’t matter what political party you’re affiliated everyone should vote Ron Paul. Vote Ron Paul for REAL CHANGE!! END THE WARS!
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She only got the silly sympathy votes from the Iowa people. Ron Paul was the real winner.
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Congrats Ron, we are all very proud of you!
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Fantastic Finish!! Michelle will have a little tougher time in NH, Ron Paul will bury the competition in the NH primary and will never have to look back after that. Ron Paul 2012! The ONLY candidate telling us the truth!
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Fox ….is…..going….to….go….ballistic….
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… But Fox Business Channel, with Judge Napolitano on Freedom Watch and Stossel are jumping for joy.
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Nice nice……not bad at all though……152 votes difference is a pretty good showing for Ron Paul……:) This means trouble for the establishment regardless….hahaha. I cant wait to see the faces and their attempt to discredit Ron Pauls win…….lol
Congrats Dr. Ron Paul!!!!!!
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I’m so proud on behalf of dr.Paul.
As a norwegian I really hope he’s the next president of the US.
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152 out of first…within 1% point… Sounds like a win to me!!
Santorum is right now dismissing RP. lol.
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YEAH Dr. Paul!! I really enjoyed your speech earlier today, and clearly many others did as well. RON PAUL 2012
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Awesome! Go Ron!!!!! We need to take ‘OUR’ ‘Constitution’ back!!
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Bachman….puhlease……..sigh
Good showing however.
Go RP!
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