Ron Paul Wins Gaston County Straw Poll
By: BJ Lawson
Gastonia, NC — No, Gastonia is not a country in Eastern Europe. It’s actually a North Carolina town just west of Charlotte, and tonight they had a county GOP meeting that featured fantastic barbecue at Alfred & Charlie’s BBQ House as well as a presidential straw poll. These results are just in:
John McCain: 2.4%
Rudy Guiliani: 4.9%
Mitt Romney: 7.3%
Newt Gingrich: 7.3%
Mike Huckabee: 9.8%
Fred Thompson: 31.7%
Ron Paul: 36.6%
Given how much time and money the Ron Paul campaign has spent in North Carolina, I’m sure they’ll be pleased.
While the barbecue was excellent (and I’m not even a huge barbecue fan), the best part about the evening was the opportunity for numerous “meaningful conversations”, as referenced in my previous comments. The straw poll drew Ron Paul supporters from within and outside the county, and the articulate enthusiasm of the Ron Paul crowd seemed well received by the regular attendees. After the meeting adjourned, questions about Ron Paul and his candidacy from the “regulars” generated healthy discussion for the next hour. By the end of the evening, which lasted longer then many attendees planned, there were a lot more people prepared to answer the question, “Who is Ron Paul?”
The bottom line is if you’re a Ron Paul supporter, or just beginning to explore his candidacy from outside the Republican party, don’t be intimidated to show up at GOP functions and start talking to people. We’re all living in the same world and seeing the same problems — the easiest way to identify the need and light the path for a Constitutional federal government and individual liberty is a one-on-one conversation!
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
:: 
August 14th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
As a long time Ron Paul supporter in Pennsylvania I am extremely pleased with these results. A tip of the hat to the good folks of Gastonia!
August 14th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Remember, it’s just a straw poll. What should be interesting is finding out info on the http://www.impactpolling.com site. Telephone poll of 3000 reps. with Ron taking the win with 45%….um…anyone have info on that poll?
August 14th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Ron Paul wins all the honest polls!
He is doing pretty good in the dishonest polls too.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Thanks for giving the percentages, but what is the total number of votes for all candidates? We can figure out the rest
August 14th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
We had a few members of the Charlotte meetup group at this straw poll, and besides the excellent barbecue and excellent results of this poll, the most exciting part of the night was networking with other Ron Paul supporters from across the area.
Thanks to everyone who attended!
August 14th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
That is Good News, That shows that Dr Paul supoprt is real, That is translating to votes and if it follows the same rate as on the internet, we will have an incredible amount of voters showing up everywhere and demostrating support for Dr Paul.
You can find him on Youtube, google, yahoo. and many other sites. Please help spread the word, The Dr has prescribed Liberty, take as many times a days as necesary.
August 14th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
James: The numbers were reported as percentages, but I believe that there were about 40-50 people there based upon my quick count of (tables * seats) + standing room. That estimate makes sense if you assume that McCain got one vote: 1/0.024 => 42 total votes.
The local GOP said they were putting out a press release today, so perhaps this will be confirmed in the “Old Media”
Thanks for dropping by!
BD
August 14th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Hey,
I was reading about this poll on http://www.ronpaulforum.com this morning, and it seems there is a discrepancy about who actually won it.
Not to rain on anybody’s parade (especially Ron Paul’s), I think they were saying that Fred Thompson won it after all…
???
***
Hi Tara — Without a more precise link to the article, I don’t have time to find it. (I looked at the site and it doesn’t have a “search” box
All I can say is that I was at the straw poll, voted, and transcribed the results as they were read by the Treasurer. And Ron Paul’s 36.6% beats Fred Thompson’s 31.7%. But in the end, I think the more important result is the quality of the dialog that resulted from this exercise of democracy!
Thanks for stopping by,
BD
August 14th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
I read somewhere else that later on more votes were “found”. The first report was at 10:30 PM, and votes are as follows: Paul 15, Thompson 13, Huckabee 4, Gingrich 3, Romney 3, Giuliani 2 and McCain 1.
Another count was posted at 11:38, with the following vote tottals: Paul 23, Thompson 64, Huckabee 47, Gingrich 12, Romney 11, Giuliani 9 and McCain 8. How they missed more than 75% of the votes the first time around seems rather suspicious. They showed up after the votes had been counted. Not only that, but where were these persons when they voted? Or did they vote at all? Did they stuff the ballot box after the votes were counted? Or did somebody just made it up? If someone is willing to steal the straw poll; they are willing to steal the election.
***
Hi Gonzalo - Again, unless you can link me to where you read more votes were “found”, I can’t comment other than to say that I was there and transcribed the results (given in percentages, not number of votes) when they were read by the Treasurer. I also distributed this information via email to my Meetup group. This appeared, by all reasonable estimates, to be an honest vote accompanied by some great barbecue and great conversation :).
I am interested to see if the Gaston County GOP’s press release hits the local paper(s). If so, it should corroborate the numbers I posted.
Thanks,
BD
August 14th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
well, how many took part in the poll? it’s a nice victory sure, but still, i wonder how many were there.
***
Hi Daniel — I thought with my calculations above that there were 42 participants in the poll. But due to rounding, I think there were actually 41. So the totals break down as follows:
John McCain: 2.4% (1 vote)
Rudy Guiliani: 4.9% (2 votes)
Mitt Romney: 7.3% (3 votes)
Newt Gingrich: 7.3% (3 votes)
Mike Huckabee: 9.8% (4 votes)
Fred Thompson: 31.7% (13 votes)
Ron Paul: 36.6% (15 votes)
But again, the important part for me wasn’t the number of votes, but the fact that a great conversation ensued among a bunch of concerned citizens. If you’re similarly concerned, get out there and start asking questions!
Thanks for stopping by,
BD
August 14th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Congratulations for Dr. Paul! We all just need to hang in there during this long process and celebrate every small victory like this one.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
Just wanted to chime in as I attended this meeting.
Like others have said, a very pleasing time of food and sharing with the GOP regulars about Ron.
One note about the outcome being in question, I heard the chairman say Ron Paul was the “official” winner. The statement that more votes were “found” later seems unlikely as the numbers are way out of line with the amount of attendees. I counted around 50 people total at the event.
Go Ron Paul!
August 14th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Well, here’s the link:
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=12128
I really hope you’re right about Ron Paul winning!
***
Thanks, Tara. I followed that back to the original source, which, ironically, is on the message board from a local Meetup:
http://ronpaul.meetup.com/52/messages/boards/view/viewthread?thread=3355206#10559320
I don’t know Fred, and I don’t know where his numbers came from, but I sent him an email to see if he’ll document his source. So far he’s not responded. I just recorded the numbers that were announced at the close of the meeting.
BD
August 14th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Ron’s at three % in PA, tied with Romney.
August 14th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Congratulations, Congressman Paul!
August 15th, 2007 at 1:33 am
Thank God I grew up in the next county, Home of good old BOA now let’s go for Charlotte, NC there is more folks there, than in Iowa.
But that is the Big Money. But we got to get the message out. Thank all of you for the work that you do I’m working as hard as I can in Greensboro, NC, already been barred from the restaurant/bar that I had gone to for years because of my feelings for this man. I wonder if anyone else has got the same treatment? I do believe that we got them thinking, What If?
What If? they wake up and take their country back, it’s got to be their worst nightmare.
They have dumbed us up, scared the hell out of us, they are without question the most controlling group of idiots this country has ever seen, yet when you talk to people here about the Revolution. they look at you as if your on Acid.
When the Older Folks get the message that maybe their portfolio will maybe adjust, either up and or down and that they too have to understand it could happen when we take back our country, that they are committing to the future of this nation, started by our forefathers. Please just take a look at the “Doctor”
BTW I’m 53, and twenty of those years I have call a Clinton and or a Bush President, enough is enough. Ron Paul President, I love the way that sounds.
August 15th, 2007 at 6:56 am
[...] Ron Paul Wins Gaston County Straw Poll Gastonia, NC — No, Gastonia is not a country in Eastern Europe. It’s actually a North Carolina town just […] [...]
August 16th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Thompson, Obama, Rudy, Clinton, it does not matter. Unfortunately it took segregationist Governor Wallace to reveal the truth that “there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between” Republicans and Democrats. The Democrats willingly went along with the War in Iraq, suspension of Habeas Corpus, detaining protestors, banning books like “America Deceived’ from Amazon, stealing private lands (Kelo decision), warrant-less wiretapping and refusing to investigate 9/11 properly. They are both guilty of treason.
Support Dr. Ron Paul and break this cycle.
Last link (before Google Books bends to gov’t Will and drops the title):
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-38523-0
August 16th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Ron Paul Supporters Promoting Gaston GOP Dinner
The Gaston County Republican Party Executive Committee will hold its next meeting on Monday (August 13) at Alfred & Charlie’s Barbecue House, 815 South New Hope Road, in Gastonia. The meeting is at 7 p.m., following an optional buffet dinner…
August 16th, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Our guy did ut again!!!! Congratulations to Ron and all his fantastic supporters!
I found this earlier in the evening; are you familiar with this? Perhaps we should all make it a point to boycott this one. What is it??? Can they just make up the rules as they go along?
*************************
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com
RON PAUL SUPPORTERS NOT ALLOWED AT TEXAS STRAW POLL!!
Here is the problem with Dr. Ron Paul having a good showing in his OWN STATE OF TEXAS. The only people who can vote in the Texas Straw Poll are people who have been delegates in the past! IN other words, I, a Texas Republican cannot go to Fort Worth on Sept 1 and vote for Dr. Ron Paul in my own state. Doesn’t everyone see a problem with this??
Posted Aug 16, 2007 09:16 AM PST
August 16th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
The train is picking up steam. You can feel it. Soon the MSM won’t know what to do.
Desperate times for the fake Republicans. Shout it loud, I’m for Ron Paul and I am proud.
August 16th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
[...] Ron Paul Wins Gaston County Straw Poll Gastonia, NC — No, Gastonia is not a country in Eastern Europe. It’s actually a North Carolina town just […] [...]
August 18th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
An excellent commentary by Barry Day on the power of 1 on 1 communication. That’s just one of the areas where the Ron Paul Revolution shines. We’re facing the very exciting prospect of exposing and expelling the Neocon network that hijacked the Republican Party from the top. Their hired media are panic-stricken as they stare in shock at bigger and bigger and louder and louder Ron Paul gatherings. The reporters in the big press section inside the Hilton Coliseum during the Ames, Iowa Straw Poll looked stunned.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:55 am
[...] Republican Party of Gaston County, North Carolina, conducted their straw at their GOP meeting and barbecue at Alfred aand [...]
August 31st, 2007 at 2:30 am
[...] Republican Party of Gaston County, North Carolina, conducted their straw at their GOP meeting and barbecue at Alfred aand Charlie’s [...]
September 26th, 2007 at 11:26 am
[...] Republican Party of Gaston County, North Carolina, conducted their straw at their GOP meeting and barbecue at Alfred aand [...]
September 27th, 2007 at 11:59 am
[...] Republican Party of Gaston County, North Carolina, conducted their straw at their GOP meeting and barbecue at Alfred aand [...]