St. Petersburg straw poll votes were cast with cash. ("I voted 20 times,")

[CGowen]

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mitt Romney bought himself a victory in the straw poll for Republicans at a rain-shortened barbecue in Vinoy Park.

Romney got 893 votes, besting second-place Ron Paul's 534 -- despite Paul's shuttling in supporters on a rented trolley and shuttle. The campaign had a plane sporting pro-Paul slogans and a boat touting him, too.

In fact, Paul supporters dominated the crowd, which reached an estimated 1,000 people. Tickets for votes cost $20 each.

So how did Romney do it?

"I voted 20 times," Derek Gyongzois, 38, of St. Petersburg exclaimed after casting ballots.

He said he works as a volunteer for the Romney campaign (and begged a reporter not to print his 20-vote tally). Did he buy the tickets?

....


http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/29/Worldandnation/St_Petersburg_straw_p.shtml

[hobbit709]

1. "I voted 20 times,"

Yep! He's a good republican all right.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. Yes, indeed, especially since he attempted to convince the reporter to not report it.

Cheating and covering up, their favorite hobbies. MKJ

[demnan]

2. Let's hope he doesn't have an account with Diabold

n/t

[CGowen]

8. Diebold, although it reminds me of Diablo, too. n/t

[Cooley Hurd]

4. Romney supporters "freeped" the straw poll?

:rofl:

[TwilightZone]

5. So, Paul had 1,000 people there and only received 534 votes?

Not an impressive showing, particularly in light of the fact that people could buy multiple tickets.

[CGowen]

6. I think they dominated the crowd of 1000 people

"Paul supporters dominated the crowd, which reached an estimated 1,000 people."


That's how I read it.

[TwilightZone]

7. True...read it wrong.

Need caffeine!

[flpoljunkie]

9. SPTimes Buzz blog has a video link, as well...

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/11/team-romneys-ba.html

We received a breathless e-mail exposing that the Tampa Bay $20-per vote straw poll this week was a fraud because people were seen voting over and over again ("This kind of stuff has to stop, or the polls mean NOTHING"). Checking the video link, we see Fred Leonhardt, the Gray Robinson lobbyist/power broker and Romney supporter, voting again and again. That's perfectly kosher, albeit a bit sinister-looking on video.

Leonhardt told Buzz the fellow next to him was happily stuffing the ballots for Ron Paul. "Meanwhile everyone in America watching the substance of the debate knows Mike Huckabee won it, and nobody knows what happened with the straw poll,'' he laughed.

November 30, 2007