Straw Poll

MILWAUKEE -- Former governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin is dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, a campaign official said yesterday. Thompson finished sixth among eleven candidates in this weekend's Republican straw poll in Iowa. He had said before the Iowa event that he would drop out of the race unless he finished first or second. The campaign released a statement confirming that Thompson was ending his bid but didn't say whether he would endorse another candidate.

By Shira Schoenberg, Globe Correspondent Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum today implied that Mitt Romney paid for votes in the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll on Saturday, where Romney beat Santorum 38 percent to 31 percent. Santorum, asked about the straw poll on CNN's Face the Nation, said in past years, Texas Representative Ron Paul won because he trucked in supporters and paid for their tickets. (Paul did not address the convention this year.)

Michigan native Mitt Romney rolled over Governor Rick Perry of Texas and the rest of his Republican presidential rivals in a Michigan straw poll yesterday, reinforcing a favorite-son status that could make it tough for anyone else to win the state's GOP primary. It was the second day of bad news for Perry, who lost to businessman Herman Cain in a Florida straw poll Saturday before heading to the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference in Michigan. Perry's second-place finish in Florida came just days after he faltered in a debate in Orlando, Fla. Romney came in third there, although he isn't...

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum implied yesterday that Mitt Romney paid for votes in the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll on Saturday, where Romney beat Santorum, 38 percent to 31 percent. Santorum, asked about the straw poll on CNN's "Face the Nation," said in past years, Representative Ron Paul of Texas won because he trucked in supporters and paid for their tickets. (Paul did not address the convention this year.) "The Romney campaign, how many tickets they've bought, we've heard all sorts of things," Santorum said.

People who cast ballots in a non-binding fundraising GOP straw poll sponsored by the Connecticut Republican Party favored former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The Connecticut GOP announced Friday night that Romney received 29 percent of the vote in the presidential straw poll, followed by Newt Gingrich with 28 percent and Ron Paul with 26 percent. Rick Santorum was in a distant fourth place with 11 percent. The straw poll was a fundraiser for the party; ballots cost $20 apiece.

The Illinois Republican Party says Ron Paul has won a statewide straw poll that sought to determine voters' unofficial preference for the GOP presidential nomination. The Texas congressman won Saturday's poll with 52 percent of the vote. Paul won in both online and total votes. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney carried Illinois' in-person voting with 35 percent. The Illinois straw poll — at more than 3,600 votes — surpassed such large states as Ohio, Florida and California that held straw polls earlier this year.

Mitt Romney has won The Washington Times/CPAC Presidential Straw Poll of conservative activists. The former Massachusetts governor is favored as the Republican presidential nominee by 38 percent of the 3,408 respondents. Rivals Rick Santorum drew 31 percent, and Newt Gingrich was favored by 15 percent. All three candidates addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Friday. Romney had encouraged students to attend the convention, and 44 percent of them participated in the poll.

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas has won the presidential straw poll at the Republican Leadership Conference. The perennial libertarian candidate won 612 votes from the gathering that brings presidential candidates, party elders, grassroots activists and donors. Coming in second place was former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who served three Republican administrations and then worked as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to China. Huntsman got 382 votes, but did not address the conference.

Mitt Romney is planning to forgo the Iowa straw poll — a political tradition that is often seen as an early barometer of a candidate’s organizational strength — as he continues to downplay his chances in a state that was seen as vital to his campaign four years ago. “Our campaign has made the decision to not participate in any straw polls, whether it’s in Florida, Iowa, Michigan, or someplace else,’’ campaign manager Matt Rhoades said...

ALGONA, Iowa -- Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said yesterday he has scaled back plans for a straw poll in Iowa next month that two chief rivals are bypassing. He said he hopes to do well, but "we're not trying to overshoot dramatically. " That means reducing the budget for the straw poll Aug. 11 in Ames and the number of supporters his campaign plans to bus in to the event. In June, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Senator John McCain bowed out of the decades-old nonbinding contest.

Mitt Romney pulled out a narrow win in the caucuses in Maine today, reinforcing his front-runner status after suffering a trio of defeats Tuesday in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. Romney took 39 percent of the vote while Ron Paul claimed 36 percent. Rick Santorum took 18 percent and Newt Gingrich 6 percent. Maine was viewed as backyard territory for Romney. The caucus victory not only ends his losing streak, but permits him to ride news of a win for several weeks until the next contests, in Arizona and Michigan, which are held February 28. Romney's win is a blow for Ron Paul, the...

Mitt Romney has won The Washington Times/CPAC Presidential Straw Poll of conservative activists. The former Massachusetts governor is favored as the Republican presidential nominee by 38 percent of the 3,408 respondents. Rivals Rick Santorum drew 31 percent, and Newt Gingrich was favored by 15 percent. All three candidates addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Friday. Romney had encouraged students to attend the convention, and 44 percent of them participated in the poll.

Mitt Romney pulled out a narrow win in the caucuses in Maine yesterday, providing a boost after suffering a trio of defeats on Tuesday in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri. Romney took 39 percent of the vote while Ron Paul claimed 36 percent. Rick Santorum took 18 percent and Newt Gingrich 6 percent. Maine was viewed as backyard territory for Romney, who handily won the state caucus in 2008. The victory not only ends his losing streak but permits him to ride news of a win for several weeks until the next contests, in Arizona and Michigan, which are to be held on Feb. 28. Romney's win...

WASHINGTON – Newt Gingrich invoked the name of Ronald Reagan in the opening lines of a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference here today, and then made a dozen or so policy pledges that he contends are in the revolutionary mold of the Gipper. "In all the years that I have worked in this party and in this movement, this is the year to reset this country in a decisive, bold way," Gingrich declared in an address that won frequent applause and standing ovations. "We need to teach the Republican establishment a lesson," he said.

DENVER — Rick Santorum catapulted back into the primary limelight last night, stunning presumed Republican front-runner Mitt Romney in the Colorado caucuses while handily winning in Minnesota and Missouri. Although none of the votes were binding, the trio of losses sows doubts about the former Massachusetts governor's ability to win over conservatives in the nation's heartland. Santorum's close victory in Colorado, considered the prize of the night, came despite aggressive campaigning by Romney in a state where he dominated...

DENVER - Rick Santorum catapulted back into the primary limelight last night, stunning presumed Republican front-runner Mitt Romney with a win in the Colorado caucuses while handily winning in Minnesota and Missouri. The trio of losses sows doubts about the former Massachusetts governor's ability to win over conservatives in the nation's heartland. Santorum's close victory in Colorado, considered the prize of the night, came despite aggressive campaigning by Romney in a state where he dominated John McCain in 2008.

People who cast ballots in a non-binding fundraising GOP straw poll sponsored by the Connecticut Republican Party favored former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The Connecticut GOP announced Friday night that Romney received 29 percent of the vote in the presidential straw poll, followed by Newt Gingrich with 28 percent and Ron Paul with 26 percent. Rick Santorum was in a distant fourth place with 11 percent. The straw poll was a fundraiser for the party; ballots cost $20 apiece.

Connecticut Republicans are hosting an online presidential straw poll as a party fundraiser. State Republican Chairman Jerry Labriola Jr. says the recent Iowa caucus proved that the race for the Republican nomination is very close. He says he thinks winning the Connecticut Republican straw poll "will offer the winning candidate the momentum necessary to lock up the Northeast delegates. " Ballots for the fundraising straw poll cost $20 each, and voting will continue until 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 20. People can visit www.ctgop.org to vote.