Posted on 03/01/2007 4:22:47 PM PST by meg88
Presidential rivals grasp at straw-poll glory By AARON GOULD SHEININ asheinin@thestate.com
FILE PHOTOGRAPH/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani More photos Anonymous critics aim at Romney Spartanburg — Agnes Spong thinks she’s landed in political heaven. The lifelong Republican from Upstate New York retired to Spartanburg two years ago and quickly discovered she was among friends.
“I think it was just about the greatest thing in the world,” Spong said Monday at Wade’s Restaurant prior to a campaign appearance by U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.
Spong is not alone in thinking this Upstate bastion of Republicanism is the greatest thing since Barry Goldwater.
Brownback and about a half-dozen other GOP presidential hopefuls are spending thousands of dollars and making countless campaign phone calls and personal visits to the county in advance of tonight’s straw poll vote.
The Spartanburg County Republican Party’s 93 precincts will meet to elect officers and county executive committee members. Then, participants will “vote” for their choice for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination.
It’s a long way from primary day — but you wouldn’t know it.
“It’s been awful,” said Jimmy Moore, organizer at Westview A, one of the largest Republican precincts in the state.
“I have literally every single day gotten 10 calls from these people (candidates). It just gets annoying. If this is what’s happening a year out from the primary, what the heck is going to happen later?”
County party Chairman Rick Beltram said candidates are pouring money and energy into Spartanburg:
nþBrownback and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani have sent thousands of direct-mail pieces to Republican voters.
nþFormer Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is running TV ads and has done direct mail.
nþThose three, along with U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., have visited the county in recent weeks.
CNN reported on the straw poll Wednesday. Beltram said Fox News’ “Hannity & Colmes” will broadcast straw-poll results live from county party headquarters tonight.
As Beltram explained the attention, his other phone line rang; it was The New York Times.
“The whole week, it’s been constant like this,” he said.
Why?
The answer depends on the campaign. For McCain, the S.C. front-runner, a good showing confirms his status. For Brownback, who’s on a different tier than McCain and Giuliani, it’s an opportunity to break through.
Moore agrees but says there is another reason: money. The winner gets to tell donors, “See, those Spartanburg County Republicans down in South Carolina love me, and that’s why you should give me money,” he said.
It also illustrates a candidate’s ability to win in a key county in a key state. George W. Bush won 58 percent of the vote in Spartanburg County in 2000. McCain had 36 percent. Bush won the state overall with 53 percent.
The GOP grip on the county is fierce. Gov. Mark Sanford took 61 percent of the county’s vote last year, up from 59 percent in 2002.
Even when Democrats win statewide, they typically lose Spartanburg. Democrat Jim Hodges defeated Republican incumbent Gov. David Beasley in 1998 but lost Spartanburg 48-52 percent. However, keeping the race close in Spartanburg also may be a key to Democratic success.
Jim Rex came as close as any Democrat, but still lost when he defeated Republican Karen Floyd for state education superintendent last year. Rex lost the county, where Floyd lives, by only about 200 votes.
The Spartanburg County Republican Party has been holding straw polls since 2001, Beltram said. The first one in late 2001 was for the 2002 gubernatorial primary. Then-Lt. Gov. Bob Peeler won — but not by much.
“Even though he won, people went back and said, ‘Wow, he’s vulnerable,’” Beltram said. Sure enough, Peeler was the top vote-getter in the primary but lost the runoff to Sanford.
In late 2003, the straw poll for the U.S. Senate primary gave Greenville’s Jim DeMint a boost. DeMint won the straw poll, finished second in the primary then swamped Beasley in the runoff.
All the attention is exhausting but encouraging, Beltram said.
“When I was elected chairman in 1999, I told delegates my No. 1 goal was to make the relevance of (the) Spartanburg County party as high as I can take it. That’s what we’ve done.”
Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658.
WHY SPARTANBURG?
Tonight’s straw poll: The event has grabbed national media attention.
(sighs)
Debating you is irritating when you don't answer my question at all.
I'm not asking for numbers or anything. I just want an honest answer.
How can a conservative support a liberal when we're not even at the primaries yet? Is that position contradictory or not?
When "they" said "SC", do you think they meant -
A. South Carolina
B. Spartanburg County
A. or B. Which one do you think "they' meant?
Good for Rudy, and good for Duncan! I support 'em both!
(It is possible, you know).
Stop spamming!! Is that the only comment you can formulate?
Rudy Lovers: The Rosie O'Donnell Wing of the Republican Party)
And you want to talk about attitude? We have a word for that here(s).
Humor?
Long way to go and the liberal record will be coming out as well.Hmm, wonder who conservatives will want to vote for in the primary
A or B?
Rudy won, but Hunter, the one that "nobody heard of," lol, came in SECOND.
btw, do you remember how fast Howard Dean fizzled out?
I don't see hate. I see passion, for the love of our country.
"And we're not tearing Rudy down. His own positions are doing that."
You beat me to it!!
I wouldn't hold my breath for a reply. He's more or less doing the same act on another thread about this very topic.
When "they" said "SC", do you think they meant -
A. South Carolina
B. Spartanburg County
A. or B. Which one do you think "they' meant?
"I have never even read a Hunter thread let alone bashed the man. Sorry that you can't say the same about your behavior toward Rudy and his supporters"
That's not fair!! We would do the same even if Hillary and her supporters were trying to hijack the Grand Old Party!
I too think this is big news, despite McCain skipping the event.
I personally have the most in common with Hunter but do not know who I will contribute to and campaign for yet.
I think the most inspirational conservative is Newt and am hoping he throws his hat in the ring, but will support any Republican.
Anyone who comes from the Republican party will be better than the Democrat candidate. This is the most important thing for someone who loves their country and knows that it comes down to a choice between two imperfect people.
Call it hedging my bet but I hate socialists and commies so it is a no brainer.
Rudy is a conservative in fiscal, domestic, and foreign policy issues and supports strict constructionist judges. The President has very little influence on social issues. And Rudy is the GOP's most electable candidate, the only one IMO that can win in 2008.
With 81 of 92 precincts reporting, Giuliani garnered 158 votes. California Rep. Duncan Hunter was running in a close second with 152 votes and Arizona Sen. John McCain was third with 116 votes, according to county GOP officials.
Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback had 83 votes, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 80 votes and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee rounded out the front-runners with 21 votes.
Another question:
When "they" said Rudy would NEVER make it in SC, do you think they meant -
A. A straw poll in a single county that makes up only 5% of the state of SC.
B. The primary election in the state of SC.
Duncan Hunter is the winner tonight.
Carl Cameron is a dim lib. I don't trust anything he says.
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