Ben Carson Wins Meaningless Straw Poll

Ben Carson won the straw poll conducted at this weekend’s Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City:

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ben Carson won the straw poll at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference Saturday, demonstrating his popularity among conservative activists at one of the party’s traditional presidential cattle call events.

Carson, a former surgeon who formally launched his underdog campaign this month with an appeal to the GOP’s tea party wing, finished first with 25 percent. He was followed by Scott Walker, who received 20 percent, and Ted Cruz at 16 percent. Chris Christie and Rick Perry tied at 5 percent, with Jeb Bush narrowly behind. Marco Rubio tied with Bobby Jindal and Rand Paul at 4 percent.

The straw poll victory doesn’t necessarily represent a breakthrough for Carson. Carson and Cruz, both middle-of-the-pack candidates in the early 2016 polls, mounted serious efforts to win the straw poll but most candidates did not compete. They hoped it would give them badly needed momentum as they compete against a sprawling field of better known and better funded rivals. Four years ago here, Mitt Romney notched a narrow, one-vote win over Ron Paul.

The announcement of the results brought an end to a three-day event that has become a mainstay of the party’s nominating contest. It drew 2,000 or so activists from around the South, organizers said, with 958 casting votes in the straw poll. It also drew many of the 2016 Republican hopefuls, all of whom used 25-minute speeches at the downtown Cox Convention Center to throw out red meat to the conservatives gathered.

Rubio and Cruz, who were originally scheduled to make appearances, had to cancel as a result of the ongoing negotiations in Washington over renewal of the Patriot Act.

The three front-runners for the party’s nomination — Bush, Walker, and Rubio — did not have a major presence in the halls. Privately, their advisers said they saw little point in investing time and resources in winning a contest without any electoral implications. None wanted to be seen as seriously competing for a straw poll, which would have little upside and could result in an embarrassing loss.

Cruz and Carson, however, decided to participate in a big way. Both candidates had supporters who manned booths, where they passed out literature, took down information from prospective supporters, and encouraged them to cast votes in the straw poll. Carson backers, wearing blue “I’m with Ben” stickers, crowded the halls and invited attendees to take pictures with a life-size cardboard cut-out of the candidate

It’s worth noting that four years ago the SRLC straw poll was won by Ron Paul, so this result is about as meaningless as you can imagine. Nonetheless, look for the Carson campaign to push this as if it means something.

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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Mark Ivey says:

    This is why God is flooding downtown OKC, because he wants Dr Carson in the White House..

    :))))

  2. Gustopher says:

    From the article:

    Four years ago here, Mitt Romney notched a narrow, one-vote win over Ron Paul.

    And from Doug:

    It’s worth noting that four years ago the SRLC straw poll was won by Ron Paul, so this result is about as meaningless as you can imagine.

    One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn’t belong…

  3. Gustopher says:

    This sounds pretty meaningless:

    Carson […] finished first with 25 percent. He was followed by Scott Walker, who received 20 percent, and Ted Cruz at 16 percent.

    Until you get to this:

    Cruz and Carson, however, decided to participate in a big way. Both candidates had supporters who manned booths, where they passed out literature, took down information from prospective supporters, and encouraged them to cast votes in the straw poll.

    Ted Cruz tried, and he still couldn’t beat the Ben Carson Juggernaut! Ha ha ha ha ha.

  4. OldSouth says:

    To quote the old song…

    ‘They all laughed when Christopher Columbus claimed that the world was round…’

  5. al-Ameda says:

    Good. Hopefully this fraudulent little straw poll propels Carson to the 2016 GOP nomination. Let the entertainment value begin.