PERRY -- Georgia businessman and Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain won the first statewide straw poll held by the Georgia Republican Party on Saturday at the Georgia National Fairgrounds.
Cain, who was unable to attend the Perry event after traveling to Israel for Glen Beck’s Restoring Courage rally, received 232 votes, just three more than runner-up U.S. Rep. Ron Paul.
“We’re absolutely thrilled (with the results),” said Bertha Craig-Allen, a state district director for the Cain campaign. “He wanted to be here, but we are very, very excited to tell him the news when he gets back.”
She said the outcome was a good indication for Georgia, despite the small margin of victory over Paul.
“Ron Paul has been a thorn in many a campaign’s side in the past,” she said. “I’m not going to let that ruffle my feathers.”
Paul supporters let out the loudest cheer of them all as the straw poll results were announced. The Texas congressman’s second place finish was more than they expected, said Kelly Nguyen, a Paul campaign state coordinator.
“It means that people are really liking his stance on the issues and what he stands for,” she said of the poll results. “It’s going to really help the Ron Paul support. It’s giving us a lot of hope.”
Texas Gov. Rick Perry came in third with 180 votes and former Georgia U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich, who attended the event, received 162.
Gingrich was the only candidate to address the crowd, receiving much applause when he spoke about the need for dramatic change in Washington and the fight it will take to achieve that change. He asked for help and support not just now, but throughout the election and “for eight years trying to change this country.”
“I think that it is important that we understand that 2012 is about a lot more than defeating Barack Obama,” he told attendees. “We need to beat him, but we also need to pick up 12 seats in the U.S. Senate and we need to pick up 30 or 40 seats in the House.”
The annual fish fry was originally launched in 2004 by former Gov. Sonny Perdue, who was also in attendance Saturday. When Perdue decided not to continue the event, state GOP Chairman Sue Everhart said the party stepped in to organize it and decided to also hold a straw poll.
“We figured if Iowa can have a straw poll, why can’t Georgia have one?,” she said.
The combined event brought out the largest crowd the fish fry had ever seen, said Bert Guy, the state party’s first vice chairman.
About 1,000 people -- some undecided voters, but many clad in T-shirts, pins and hats emblazoned with their respective candidate’s name -- piled into the Miller-Murphy-Howard building at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter for the event Saturday.
“It’s important to come out and be seen because these are the people who are definitely going to vote and these are the people who are also going to bring their friends to vote in 2012,” said Ric Mayfield, a volunteer for the Mitt Romney campaign.
“We recognize that there are a couple of favorite sons here in the election, but we’re not going to concede the state to anybody,” he said before the votes were tallied, adding that the campaign doesn’t officially participate in straw polls. “We’re more interested in the votes that matter come the primary.”
Romney tallied 51 votes, followed by Rep. Michele Bachmann with 29.
“I feel it’s time we have a true constitutional conservative in the White House who says what she means and means what she says,” said Cameron Harrelson, a 16-year-old Teen for Bachmann, who said although he won’t turn 18 in time to vote in the 2012 election, he hopes his voice can make a difference. “She’s a fighter,” he said of the Minnesota congresswoman, adding that it’s going to take a fight to win the upcoming election.
“We’re not worried about Herman Cain or Rick Perry or Newt Gingrich,” he said. “We’re worried about Barack Obama. The goal is to defeat him.”
Bringing up the rear were Rick Santorum with 4 votes, Jon Huntsman with 3 and Thaddeus McCotter with 1.
“(Straw polls) help provide momentum,” said John Douglas, a volunteer for the Perry campaign. “They’re a baro-meter for support. Otherwise, it’s a beauty contest.”
Scott Bieniek, vice president and general counsel for the Cain campaign, agreed.
“This is where elections are won and lost,” he said.
To contact writer Caryn Grant, call 256-9751.
