Hunter Wins Texas GOP Straw Poll

It’s a pretty entertaining commentary on the Republican Party of Texas that not a single top-tier candidate showed up for the Texas GOP Straw Poll yesterday–and that the whole ball of wax was won by California Congressman Duncan Hunter while Texas Congressman Ron Paul barely made third place.

From the Dallas Morning News:

The GOP front-runners in national polls were no-shows and finished far back in the voting by 1,300 party activists – a smaller turnout than party officials had hoped for.

“Winning the straw poll in Texas is big. Texas is huge,” said a jubilant Mr. Hunter.

Huge? Really?

Check out the actual results:

Duncan Hunter: 534
Fred Thompson: 266
Ron Paul: 217
Mike Huckabee: 83
Rudy Giuliani: 78
Mitt Romney: 61
Ray McKinney: 28
John Cox: 10
John McCain: 8
Sam Brownback: 6
Tom Tancredo: 6
Hugh Cort: 3

And, this, about why he may have won:

Hunter won because he showed up and shook hands, old-school style, all day yesterday and all day today. Only activists who’ve attended past conventions were allowed to vote, and they were receptive to his message and his commitment to the crowd. [Emphasis added]

So, Hunter won because he showed up. Thompson faired well because of his star quality. Paul came in third because he’s from Texas.

Had this been a bit better constructed poll, I don’t think any of those three would have finished in the top three (Paul, perhaps, because he’s from Texas, but I doubt it).

I think the Mike Huckabee-Rudy Giuliani-Mitt Romney fourth, fifth, and sixth place finishes are what you would have been more likely to see in those places. I’m surprised, in particular, that Huckabee didn’t have a stronger showing as he seems more in tune with the rank-and-file Texas Republican. And, Giuliani, of course, as a named partner at Bracewell Giuliani, has decent support in Texas. Had he showed up, you can bet his finish would have been higher.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, however, seems to think Thompson is the man for Texas Republicans:

“He’s not even officially in the race and he finishes second – three times the showing of the front-runner, Rudy Giuliani,” said Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. “That’s pretty good.”

That Thompson had only a modest showing of “Fred Heads,” may, in fact, be a better indicator for him, but it’s difficult to tell because this straw poll can’t exactly be said to have had much credibility.

Interestingly, state GOP officials seem to be well aware of the fact that apathy among their voters in 2008 will likely send the party into a tailspin in Texas:

State Republican Party Chairman Tina Benkiser opened the Saturday session by warning that if Republican voters stay home next year, the party will lose.

“We must refuse to lose,” she said.

Sadly, they can “refuse” all they want, but it doesn’t mean they won’t lose.

It is also very interesting that President Bush, himself a Texan, was essentially ignored–except for Railroad Commissioner Michael William’s note that he was praying for the president:

In more than three hours of speeches, presentations and patriotic videos that showcased the candidates, as well as Texas and U.S. pride, President Bush was virtually ignored. The hoopla included at least a dozen references to GOP luminaries Lincoln and Reagan. Conservative California talk show host Hugh Hewitt did say, “Thank you, Texas, for George W. Bush,” which was greeted with polite applause.

Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams said he has prayed that the president would change his stance on immigration – igniting applause from the Republican crowd.

“I’m serious,” he said. “Because we know that God answers prayers.”

Labor Day starts Monday, and it’s off to the races for sure.

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