TCDP Holds Presidential Straw Poll

Straw Poll (0.00 / 0)

A South Carolina Poll right after the debate gave Obama the win by a large margin.  The voters of South Carolina matter more than those of Texas. 

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by: vamonticello @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 01:23:55 AM UTC

thats so (5.00 / 1)

simplistic it must be correct!

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 01:34:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Texas Primary... (0.00 / 0)

What is the conventional wisdom about next year's Dem primary?  Isn't John Edwards backed by many of the bigwigs here, or is it more of a three(four?)-way race?  I know much does depend on how the primaries ahead of us turn out, but I was curious if there was a general consensus as to who has the upperhand.

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by: Indigo @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 02:48:31 AM UTC

Anyone who thinks they know how this is going to turn out.. (5.00 / 1)

is smoking something.

What's most telling to me is how many of the "old guard" is completely comfortable with whomever gets the nomination. 

We have a long winnowing process ahead, and a lot of things can change. 

So don't let anyone say they know what "the powers that be" or "old guard" is doing here. 

I've been doing this for 36 years, and have attended eight National Conventions, and the folks I'm talking to are still very much uncommitted.

I'm waiting on you young ones to sort this out for me.

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by: Glen Maxey @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 02:57:32 AM UTC

... (0.00 / 0)

It's good to hear that it seems to be completely up in the air. At least that means we might actually get some national attention, which can only motivate the Party here even more.

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by: Indigo @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 03:06:06 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Very true (0.00 / 0)

The so-called "old guard" is very much splintered among Clinton, Obama and Edwards, with some even supporting Richardson.

Many are even hedging their bets by donating to multiple candidates.

Like it or not, the states who vote before us are going to have a huge influence on the result of our primary. This is nice for Clinton but it doesnt matter: Dodd and Duncan Hunter have both won straw polls ... its a nice press release but at the end of the day it doesnt mean much.

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 04:37:10 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Agreed 100% (0.00 / 0)

Furthermore, a lot of people, myself included, think if things progress as they are now (without someone flaming out, which is unlikely, but possible) we could end up with a brokered convention.  I think a lot of people are anybody but Hillary right now, but she draws considerable support amongst the less involved activist base (the people who have put out signs/block walked/etc for over 10 years but do not engage in politics on a weekly basis/read blogs/etc).  I think those supporters are soft and could easily end up realigning. 

All of this is to say we're in for a VERY fun year!!! :) 

Glen, I don't think I'm alone when I wonder when/if you're going to support a candidate. 

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by: David O. @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 15:55:32 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

RE: FYI-Hillary has Meetup in North Texas (0.00 / 0)

Hillary has grassroots effort in Tarrant County.  Check it out http://hrclinton.mee...

"Be kind to dogs - and vote Democratic!" -Senator Tom Eagleton

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by: mondalejones @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 02:58:11 AM UTC

2.6% former Senator Mike Gravel (1.00 / 1)

I think this means 2.6% of those voting have their heads up their disneyland ass.

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by: johncoby @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 03:23:45 AM UTC

Not That Surprising (0.00 / 0)

This isn't really that surprising.  For one, it was a $30 event, which isn't large, but enough to keep plenty of middle class activists out.  (As my wife said, "Why would pay $30 for beans and cornbread?  Come up with something better.")  My guess is that if you polled Mid Cities or MDC, then you would get more Edwards & Obama folks, but this is just my hunch.

Second, Constable Sergio De Leon is very active in the Tarrant County Party, and he is a strong Clinton supporter.  He even mentions it in his Tarrant County bio.  In fact, though we'll never know, I'd love to know how much Sergio influenced this vote.

I'm surprised that it was this one sided, but I'm not surprised that she won.

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by: blank @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 04:07:21 AM UTC

Third Women Candidates (0.00 / 0)

Oh, I probably should have mentioned that women candidates have started doing well in Tarrant County lately too.  Kay Granger (R) is Tarrant's most popular congressperson. Diane Patrick (R) and Paula Hightower Pierson (D) both knocked off two incumbent men in the State House.  Kathleen Hicks (?)is a rising star on the Fort Worth City Council.  Terri Moore (D) ran a fantastic race for DA.  She easily won the non-straight ticket voters, but that wasn't enough to overcome the 25K Republican straight-ticket advantage.  Valerie Baston (D) turned some heads with 45% in JP7.

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by: blank @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 04:47:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

But it was a *FUNDRAISER* (0.00 / 0)

Not a social gathering. It really bothers me when people complain about the cost of a very low-dollar fundraiser. How much lower could they reasonably set the cost?

People need to give money to the party... the national party does not fund the state party, the state party does not fund the county parties. $30 for a small dollar fundraiser is too much? How do people expect us to keep the party going?

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by: R. Kirk McPike @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 16:34:26 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not Complaining But It Skews the Poll (0.00 / 0)

Yes, I don't really have a personal problem with attending a $30-per-plate fundraiser for the party.  My only comment is that, with the cost, some members of the party will not attend and then not vote in the straw poll.  Hence, the cost skews the results of the straw poll to those willing to attend a fundraiser, which is not necessarily indicative of Tarrant County or even Tarrant County Democrats.

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by: blank @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 23:05:15 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

nearly (0.00 / 0)

all straw polls cost money to vote in and that is one of many reasons their results should be taken with a grain of salt

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 23:27:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

True. (0.00 / 0)

Of course, in Texas, it used to cost money to vote, so these are accurate results... after a fashion.

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by: R. Kirk McPike @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 23:39:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It was for fun (0.00 / 0)

Before, during, and after the straw-poll, the emphasis was that it was all for fun. In fact, you could buy extra ballots for $20 to stuff the ballot box. There was nothing scientic about it. It was a TCDP fundraiser, and the straw poll was a fun event for after the debate was over.

It helped bring some people in, who wouldn't have been there otherwise, and hit helped TCDP raise some money. That was the goal, so it was a success.

Chris Utchell

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by: ckutchell @ Tue May 01, 2007 at 16:53:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Are these the same folks who did a fund-raiser for Richardson (0.00 / 0)

in Tarrant County when there was a tornado watch?

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by: SouthTexasDemocrat @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 20:35:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Complete Different Hosts (0.00 / 0)

The hosts of the Richardson fundraiser were Republicans, whereas this fundraiser was hosted by the Tarrant County Party.  Though, I'm sure there was a small subset of overlapping attendants.

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by: blank @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 23:06:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

anyone (0.00 / 0)

know the raw vote totals?

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by: David Mauro @ Mon Apr 30, 2007 at 04:39:08 AM UTC