Edwards Wins Bay Area Democrats' Straw Poll

[JohnLocke]

Edwards tops San Mateo straw polling
Kucinich draws applause; Obama and Clinton also get support
By Julia Scott--Oakland Tribune
Monday, October 22, 2007
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SAN MATEO — An in-person appearance Sunday from Congressman Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, at the first-ever San Mateo County Democratic presidential straw poll garnered him plenty of applause and a second-place finish to surprise winner John Edwards, proving that Bay Area voters make up their own minds about which progressive candidates deserve a real shot at the White House.

With the festive air of a football rally, more than 1,000 eager Democrats packed into Oak Hall at the San Mateo County Event Center to show their support ahead of the presidential primary in February 2008. The event raised approximately $50,000 for the Central San Mateo Democratic Committee; the money will in turn support the campaigns of local Democratic candidates.

The boisterous crowd proved the presidential race is still a toss-up in Bay Area voters' minds, handing a slice of the vote to each candidate in the race — and one noncandidate, too.

Edwards garnered 29 percent of the vote, and Kucinich won 24 percent. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama came in third with 171 votes, and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., took fourth place with 128 votes.

Twenty-three wishful thinkers wrote in former Vice President Al Gore, giving him a fifth-place edge over New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Sens. Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, and former Alaska state Sen. Mike Gravel came in last.

(...)

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_7247549

Edwards Takes Bay Area Democrats' Straw Poll
Monday, 22 October 2007 6:46AM
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SAN MATEO, Calif. (KCBS) -- The winner of a straw poll event in San Mateo Sunday was former North Carolina Senator and Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards.

State Senator Leland Yee spoke for Edwards, who earned 221 votes. "Each day that we see more individuals getting killed in Iraq, more money just being wasted away, the resolve of all of us here in California is even stronger for John Edwards," he said.

Coming in second was Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, the only presidential candidate to turn out for the event. "With President Bush evoking the specter of Iran in World War Three it's time for cooler heads to prevail. It's time for responsible leadership," said Kucinich.

Senator Barack Obama placed third in the poll. Senator Hilary Clinton came in fourth ahead of Al Gore, who placed fifth as a write-in candidate.

http://www.kcbs.com/Edwards-Takes-Bay-Area-Democrats--Straw-Poll/1117913

[saracat]

1. But how can this be? Didn't they get the "memo". ? Everyone supports Hillary not Edwards!

:sarcasm: All the polls tell us this!

[obnoxiousdrunk]

2. Looks like

Edwards has all the straw polls locked up.

[penguin7]

3. Doesn't Edwards record matter?

I do not understand how Edwards has support.

He sponsored the Iraqi war, and now he is running against the war(sort of anyway) since he can't promise to get out before 2013.

He voted for the patriot act, the bankruptcy bill, China most favored nation status, and on and on. Now he is running against all these votes.

How does he have any support? How can you know what you get voting for him?

[GreenArrow]

5. no, it doesn't matter.

All that matters now is his rhetoric, and his smile.

[bobbolink]

11. Couldn't it be possible that many people are INSPIRED by his stand on poverty?

I know I am.

[Bluebear]

13. As am I.

[Hieronymus]

4. Great news, thanks for posting this. I also heard [radio] that Edwards

would beat Giuliani or Romney by more votes than Hillary would.:woohoo:

[bobbolink]

12. Absolutely.

Given that the Dems failed to get rid of the damned machines, we certainly need that lead strengthened.

[bigdarryl]

6. HE'S WON ALMOST ALL THE STRAW POLLS SO FAR

[yellowdogintexas]

10. he wiped out everybody in the Texas Dem E Poll. Rock on John nt

[mother earth]

7. You mean MSM is BS?

:kick:

What a shock! :sarcasm:

[MethuenProgressive]

8. Every time this gets posted, I'm amazed at how happy Edwardians get over 211 people

But they need all the happy (and re-post of re-posts) they can get...
:eyes:

[emlev]

9. And Kucinich Comes in Second! See this DU thread

San Mateo Straw Poll Results and discussion.

I was there as a hand-counter of ballots. It was a very energetic event.

[1932]

14. Kucinich's wife was at the event...and edwards got 28% to Kucinich's 15%

[emlev]

15. Incorrect. Edwards 29%, Kucinich 23.6%

The results are http://strawpoll08.org/StrawPoll.html">at this link.

I'm curious about where you got your info.

Yes, Elizabeth Kucinich was there. So was Dennis. I interviewed them both (see BRADBLOG tomorrow, when I expect that interview to be published).

[JohnLocke]

16. Kick