Ron Paul Wins Straw Poll in Virginia

The poll took place on Saturday night at the annual conference named the Virginia Republican Advance. Congressman Paul won the poll with 182 out of the 479 total votes that were cast, or roughly 38 per cent.

The conference, which was held this year in Arlington, Virginia, attracts both party activists and leaders from all around the state. Anyone was allowed to vote as long as they paid a $35 registration fee. Voting took place after representatives of each Republican presidential candidate gave a speech. The presidential candidacy was not the only focus of the conference. It also focused on Virginia’s open U.S. Senate seat, and the 2009 race for governor. In the presidential straw poll, Ron Paul came in first with 38 per cent of the vote, Fred Thompson came in second place with 23 per cent of the vote, Huckabee came in third with 11 per cent and Giuliani came in fourth with 9 per cent of the total vote. Many of the Republican leaders in the state have made endorsements for the Republican primary, but none of them have backed Dr. Paul. Senator George Allen backs Thompson and lieutenant governor Bill Bolling backs Romney. Rudy Giuliani has the lead in a statewide poll.