Illinois GOP County Chairmen Lend Support to Fred Thompson

by Rick Pearson & Monique Garcia (summarized): Straw polls like the Illinois Republicans' inaugural state fair presidential straw poll can admittedly be biased and not reflect the true intent of the party. At the Illinois state fair, fewer than 1,000 ballots cast. Mitt Romney's win, with 40.4%; Fred Thompson second 20%; Ron Paul1 8.9%; Giuliani 11.6%; McCain 4.1%; Huckabee 3%; Sam Brownback 1.1%; Hunter 0.7% and Tom Tancredo .3%. Despite the low-key nature of the straw poll, with none of the Republican presidential contenders in attendance, Romney's Illinois operation sent supporters to Springfield from Chicago's suburbs to vote.

Andy McKenna, the Illinois GOP chairman, cast the free event as more of an entertainment device to generate interest in a moribund state political organization. However the opposite may be said of the secret vote by Illinois Republican County Chairmen. Secret balloting conducted earlier in the day by almost half of the state's Republican county chairmen might have more practical value in determining candidate strength among local organizations charged with getting out the vote in the state's Feb. 5 primary. Among the 48 votes cast by the GOP county chairmen, Fred Thompson, an as-yet unannounced candidate, got 22 votes (46%); Rudy Giuliani second with 13 (27%). Mitt Romney 9 (19%); Mike Huckabee 2 and John McCain and Duncan Hunter each received one vote. . . . [Read More]

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