Ron Paul is choice among local GOP

Steve Koehler
Springfield News-Leader
Friday November 2, 2007

The results of a straw poll of Springfield Republicans Thursday night shows what Ron Paul backers say they already know.

Paul is a popular candidate in the conservative Ozarks.

The Texas congressman crushed his opposition in the poll taken during a meeting Thursday of the Springfield Metropolitan Republican Club at the Springfield Library Center.

Paul earned 85 votes, more than all of the other six candidates combined.

His next closest competitor, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, won 11 votes.

There were about 110 votes cast during the meeting.

"Ron Paul has won just about every straw poll in the country," said Steve Miller of Springfield, a supporter who wore a Paul T-shirt and carried a large Paul campaign sign with him all night.



"I'm just one of the guys out there beating the streets. It's good to see he won by such a large margin."

Eric Burlison, the club's president, said he was impressed with the turnout.

"The supporters carried themselves with dignity and seeing people getting involved is great," he said.

Most of the major candidates were represented at the meeting.

One presidential candidate, Richard Michael Smith from Texas, attended the meeting and got four votes.

"I'm very concerned about America. The run-of-the-mill candidates are obligated to special-interest groups who have lost touch with America," said Smith, who had a 23-year career with Radio Shack.

National polls show Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani among the Republican front-runners, but Giuliani got one vote and a couple of boos from the crowd while Romney received six votes.

"Mitt Romney is the most positive candidate we have in the U.S.," said Jim Tygrett, past president of the club.

"I'm supporting him for his values and his experience outside of Washington. We believe he can win."

Steve Helms, vice president of the club, was a Fred Thompson backer.

"This is the guy who's going to win. I support his conservative credentials," he said.

With the Missouri primary not scheduled until Feb. 5, everyone thinks their candidate can win.

"Every true American will be for Ron Paul," said Nita Main of Cape Fair.

"He's for freedom, liberty and bringing the soldiers home."

Matthew Block of Springfield was backing Huckabee.

"He's real. He makes sense," Block said, adding that he believes the presidential election isn't a lock for the Democratic Party and that the Republicans have an 80 percent chance of winning.

Larry Russell of Springfield agreed.

"A Republican has a very good opportunity. We are the ones with the reins in our hands." he said.

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