By - John Boyanoski
(July 26, 2007)
A straw poll in Georgetown Saturday likely won't be an accurate reflection of GOP voters in the Lowcountry county, but it means big bucks for the local Republican Party.
Supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, purchased 300 tickets, and supporters of former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson have purchased 100 tickets, said Tom Swatzel, chairman of the Georgetown GOP. Tickets cost $10 each.
That likely will skew the voting, but Swatzel said the point of Saturday's event is to raise money for the local GOP while also showing the grassroots strengths of the presidential campaigns.
"This is about focusing attention on campaigns," he said.
There are no rules against ballot stuffing South Carolina straw polls. And while it is not an everyday occurrence, it is not uncommon, said Chip Felkel, a South Carolina-based political consultant.
The benefits for a campaign to send a lot of delegates is it allows them to win a straw poll and later use that as a campaign rallying point, Felkel said. Most people won't know or care months later if the votes were rigged or not.
"It's about perception," Felkel said.
Paul supporters are planning a car caravan from the Greenville-Spartanburg area and a campaign bus/RV that will arrive in Pawleys Island on Friday night before the event at Waccamaw High School, Swatzel said.
In addition, Paul supporters have been posting items on Web sites reminding people they have to be South Carolina residents in order to vote in the poll.
Paul's campaign has been lifting more and more in the last few weeks as ardent on-line supporters have started to translate into event attendees. Paul drew very large crowds in Greenville and Spartanburg last week.
Swatzel said he had invited the 11 Republican candidates recognized by the state GOP as well as Thompson, who has not officially announced.
"Coming right before the big Iowa straw poll, I think presidential candidates, particularly those not participating in Iowa, will be looking for a boost from a win or high placing in our poll," Swatzel said in a release.
This is the first time that Swatzel knows of that the Georgetown GOP has held a straw poll.
"We are very excited," Swatzel said. "There is a lot of energy."
So far, the campaigns for Thompson, Paul, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California have said they are sending a representative to the event, Swatzel said.
Thompson is sending U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett of South Carolina and Hunter is sending Van Hipp, a former deputy assistant secretary of the Army, who is also a former chairman of the state GOP. The other two campaigns haven't announced their surrogate.
John Boyanoski can be reached at jboyanoski@scpols.com.
(July 26, 2007)
A straw poll in Georgetown Saturday likely won't be an accurate reflection of GOP voters in the Lowcountry county, but it means big bucks for the local Republican Party.
Supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, purchased 300 tickets, and supporters of former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson have purchased 100 tickets, said Tom Swatzel, chairman of the Georgetown GOP. Tickets cost $10 each.
That likely will skew the voting, but Swatzel said the point of Saturday's event is to raise money for the local GOP while also showing the grassroots strengths of the presidential campaigns.
"This is about focusing attention on campaigns," he said.
There are no rules against ballot stuffing South Carolina straw polls. And while it is not an everyday occurrence, it is not uncommon, said Chip Felkel, a South Carolina-based political consultant.
The benefits for a campaign to send a lot of delegates is it allows them to win a straw poll and later use that as a campaign rallying point, Felkel said. Most people won't know or care months later if the votes were rigged or not.
"It's about perception," Felkel said.
Paul supporters are planning a car caravan from the Greenville-Spartanburg area and a campaign bus/RV that will arrive in Pawleys Island on Friday night before the event at Waccamaw High School, Swatzel said.
In addition, Paul supporters have been posting items on Web sites reminding people they have to be South Carolina residents in order to vote in the poll.
Paul's campaign has been lifting more and more in the last few weeks as ardent on-line supporters have started to translate into event attendees. Paul drew very large crowds in Greenville and Spartanburg last week.
Swatzel said he had invited the 11 Republican candidates recognized by the state GOP as well as Thompson, who has not officially announced.
"Coming right before the big Iowa straw poll, I think presidential candidates, particularly those not participating in Iowa, will be looking for a boost from a win or high placing in our poll," Swatzel said in a release.
This is the first time that Swatzel knows of that the Georgetown GOP has held a straw poll.
"We are very excited," Swatzel said. "There is a lot of energy."
So far, the campaigns for Thompson, Paul, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California have said they are sending a representative to the event, Swatzel said.
Thompson is sending U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett of South Carolina and Hunter is sending Van Hipp, a former deputy assistant secretary of the Army, who is also a former chairman of the state GOP. The other two campaigns haven't announced their surrogate.
John Boyanoski can be reached at jboyanoski@scpols.com.
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