MontanaJack
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Check out my local newspaper this morning
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MontanaJack
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- Dec 19, 2007
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Madison County Republicans back Paul
By JODI HAUSEN Chronicle Staff Writer
ENNIS -- In the upstairs room of the Ennis Cafe, bedecked with red, white and blue streamers and balloons, about 30 people participated in the Republican caucus in Madison County, and overwhelmingly supported Ron Paul.
Though most of the county's 29 party positions were filled, six were left vacant. That left 23 people eligible to cast ballots in Madison County's caucus. Out of those 23, Ron Paul received 20 votes. The remaining three cast their ballots for Mitt Romney.
The other seven participants were there to stump for their favorite candidate, or just to watch the process.
Though there were vacancies, that's more positions than have been filled in a long time in Madison County, said Jim Gingery, the county's Republican Party Committee Chairman.
Before the caucus got under way, Gingery told the party faithful that this is the first time four presidential candidates will call on the state of Montana.
* "It's not a bad idea," Gingery said about holding caucuses. "It's getting (the candidates') attention."
Gingery, who was elected chairman of the county party just four weeks ago, explained his reasons for getting involved.
"I decided this was going to be an exciting election year," he said. "For the purposes of this meeting, I'm impartial."
But being a voting member of the committee, he said, he'll have to make up his mind.
"I will after I hear how (the candidates) will talk to Montanans. I think each of them have something to offer, not just to Montana, but to the country."
Running the candidates' telephoned comments through a karaoke machine, the room was silent, save for the occasional comments from a toddler in the corner room.
After hearing all four of the candidates speak and listening to Gingery read a statement from Alan Keyes, nobody volunteered to speak for McCain or Romney and, in fact, Dolly Kennedy, from Cameron, urged those gathered not to support McCain, calling him insincere.
The caucusgoers overwhelmingly supported Ron Paul with more than six stumping for him.
Speaking to his integrity and how Paul reflected the country's economic problems during his telephoned speech, Bob Wagner, of Harrison, who is running for Montana House District 71, said Paul is the only candidate who articulated the problem with the economy.
"Printing money and borrowing it from the Chinese has got to stop," Wagner said.
Proponents also liked Paul's experience and integrity.
"I'm big on keeping oaths, keeping your promise. I want somebody who will keep their word," said Steve Wagner, of Whitehall.
Jason Slater of Ennis was the only one to speak for Mitt Romney. Slater said he likes Ron Paul but feels the party needs somebody to get things done, he said.
"He's fresh and from the private sector," Slater said. "The economy is broke. I want to put my faith in somebody who has support and experience."
By JODI HAUSEN Chronicle Staff Writer
ENNIS -- In the upstairs room of the Ennis Cafe, bedecked with red, white and blue streamers and balloons, about 30 people participated in the Republican caucus in Madison County, and overwhelmingly supported Ron Paul.
Though most of the county's 29 party positions were filled, six were left vacant. That left 23 people eligible to cast ballots in Madison County's caucus. Out of those 23, Ron Paul received 20 votes. The remaining three cast their ballots for Mitt Romney.
The other seven participants were there to stump for their favorite candidate, or just to watch the process.
Though there were vacancies, that's more positions than have been filled in a long time in Madison County, said Jim Gingery, the county's Republican Party Committee Chairman.
Before the caucus got under way, Gingery told the party faithful that this is the first time four presidential candidates will call on the state of Montana.
* "It's not a bad idea," Gingery said about holding caucuses. "It's getting (the candidates') attention."
Gingery, who was elected chairman of the county party just four weeks ago, explained his reasons for getting involved.
"I decided this was going to be an exciting election year," he said. "For the purposes of this meeting, I'm impartial."
But being a voting member of the committee, he said, he'll have to make up his mind.
"I will after I hear how (the candidates) will talk to Montanans. I think each of them have something to offer, not just to Montana, but to the country."
Running the candidates' telephoned comments through a karaoke machine, the room was silent, save for the occasional comments from a toddler in the corner room.
After hearing all four of the candidates speak and listening to Gingery read a statement from Alan Keyes, nobody volunteered to speak for McCain or Romney and, in fact, Dolly Kennedy, from Cameron, urged those gathered not to support McCain, calling him insincere.
The caucusgoers overwhelmingly supported Ron Paul with more than six stumping for him.
Speaking to his integrity and how Paul reflected the country's economic problems during his telephoned speech, Bob Wagner, of Harrison, who is running for Montana House District 71, said Paul is the only candidate who articulated the problem with the economy.
"Printing money and borrowing it from the Chinese has got to stop," Wagner said.
Proponents also liked Paul's experience and integrity.
"I'm big on keeping oaths, keeping your promise. I want somebody who will keep their word," said Steve Wagner, of Whitehall.
Jason Slater of Ennis was the only one to speak for Mitt Romney. Slater said he likes Ron Paul but feels the party needs somebody to get things done, he said.
"He's fresh and from the private sector," Slater said. "The economy is broke. I want to put my faith in somebody who has support and experience."
MontanaJack
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Area GOP backs Romney, Paul in caucus
By DANIEL PERSON Chronicle Staff Writer
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul got the most votes among Republicans in the three-county area in Tuesday’s caucus, with national frontrunner Sen. John McCain taking a distant third, except in Park County.
State Sen. Joe Balyeat and Rep. Scott Sales showed their support for Paul by hoisting a banner that read $9,200,000,000,000, the current size of the nation debt.
Paul “is the only candidate who has vowed to veto deficit spending,” Balyeat told the crowd.
But it was Romney who took the most votes in Gallatin County.
* Of 100 county residents who cast votes, 47 supported Romney and 28 supported Paul. Of the 16 voters in Park County, six each supported Romney and McCain; and of 23 voters in Madison County, 20 supported Paul.
Statewide, only 1,817 people were eligible to vote because of a new voting plan designed by state Republicans for the state’s first-ever presidential caucus. Only Republicans who hold a state, national or party office could vote in the caucus. This was the first caucus ever held in Montana, and party leaders said it was a good way to make candidates pay attention to Montana, which will send 25 delegates to this summer’s Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. But some felt it put Montana’s voice in the presidential nomination in too few hands.
Each county had a single spot where voters had to cast their ballot and in Gallatin County that spot was Mixers Club, which was overwhelmed by supporters of the four candidates hoping to sway the vote in favor of their candidate, though many voters had their mind made up when they arrived.
Voter Karen Pfaehler, senior advisor for the Republican Executive Board, said she knew she was going to vote for Romney when she arrived at the caucus, and said that was not against the spirit of the event.
“We’re not the elite, we’re normal people who got involved,” she said.
Ted Washburn, a precinct chairman, said he too knew who he was going to vote for before he came to Mixers. While he would not say who he voted for, he said his choice was the most popular candidate in his precinct.
At least one voter was keeping an open mind until the end of the night. Barbara Eckstein said she was still wavering between McCain and Romney, and said she would “wait until they are all done talking” before casting her vote.
Several supporters of the candidates took to the stage to promote their candidate to those still undecided. Caucus goers also heard from all four candidates who addressed Montana Republicans via conference calls.
The candidates on the phone largely stuck to their talking points leading up to Tuesday, when 21 states held Republican primaries or caucuses, though some put a local twist to the speeches. Mike Huckabee noted his endorsement from former Montana Gov. Judy Martz and McCain noted his endorsement from former Sen. Conrad Burns.
Most notable of speakers at the Gallatin County caucus was former presidential hopeful Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, who dropped out of the race in October and soon-after endorsed McCain.
Brownback said McCain’s foreign policy and military experience make him the best choice for Republicans, and McCain is the best suited to beat the Democratic nominee in the general election.
Brownback also complimented Gallatin County’s venue for the caucus.
“I love the Montana style of holding this at a bar with cheap beer,” he said. Draft beers were $1 during happy hour.
After his speech, Brownback, who had already stumped for McCain in North Dakota, said Montana was a “key swing state.” But he said he was unsure if his stop made a difference among Gallatin County voters.
“You’ll have to see,” he said with a chuckle.
McCain took third in Gallatin County with 14 votes.
By DANIEL PERSON Chronicle Staff Writer
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul got the most votes among Republicans in the three-county area in Tuesday’s caucus, with national frontrunner Sen. John McCain taking a distant third, except in Park County.
State Sen. Joe Balyeat and Rep. Scott Sales showed their support for Paul by hoisting a banner that read $9,200,000,000,000, the current size of the nation debt.
Paul “is the only candidate who has vowed to veto deficit spending,” Balyeat told the crowd.
But it was Romney who took the most votes in Gallatin County.
* Of 100 county residents who cast votes, 47 supported Romney and 28 supported Paul. Of the 16 voters in Park County, six each supported Romney and McCain; and of 23 voters in Madison County, 20 supported Paul.
Statewide, only 1,817 people were eligible to vote because of a new voting plan designed by state Republicans for the state’s first-ever presidential caucus. Only Republicans who hold a state, national or party office could vote in the caucus. This was the first caucus ever held in Montana, and party leaders said it was a good way to make candidates pay attention to Montana, which will send 25 delegates to this summer’s Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. But some felt it put Montana’s voice in the presidential nomination in too few hands.
Each county had a single spot where voters had to cast their ballot and in Gallatin County that spot was Mixers Club, which was overwhelmed by supporters of the four candidates hoping to sway the vote in favor of their candidate, though many voters had their mind made up when they arrived.
Voter Karen Pfaehler, senior advisor for the Republican Executive Board, said she knew she was going to vote for Romney when she arrived at the caucus, and said that was not against the spirit of the event.
“We’re not the elite, we’re normal people who got involved,” she said.
Ted Washburn, a precinct chairman, said he too knew who he was going to vote for before he came to Mixers. While he would not say who he voted for, he said his choice was the most popular candidate in his precinct.
At least one voter was keeping an open mind until the end of the night. Barbara Eckstein said she was still wavering between McCain and Romney, and said she would “wait until they are all done talking” before casting her vote.
Several supporters of the candidates took to the stage to promote their candidate to those still undecided. Caucus goers also heard from all four candidates who addressed Montana Republicans via conference calls.
The candidates on the phone largely stuck to their talking points leading up to Tuesday, when 21 states held Republican primaries or caucuses, though some put a local twist to the speeches. Mike Huckabee noted his endorsement from former Montana Gov. Judy Martz and McCain noted his endorsement from former Sen. Conrad Burns.
Most notable of speakers at the Gallatin County caucus was former presidential hopeful Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, who dropped out of the race in October and soon-after endorsed McCain.
Brownback said McCain’s foreign policy and military experience make him the best choice for Republicans, and McCain is the best suited to beat the Democratic nominee in the general election.
Brownback also complimented Gallatin County’s venue for the caucus.
“I love the Montana style of holding this at a bar with cheap beer,” he said. Draft beers were $1 during happy hour.
After his speech, Brownback, who had already stumped for McCain in North Dakota, said Montana was a “key swing state.” But he said he was unsure if his stop made a difference among Gallatin County voters.
“You’ll have to see,” he said with a chuckle.
McCain took third in Gallatin County with 14 votes.
MontanaJack
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Scott Sales, the Representative mentioned in the previous article, is the Speaker of the Montana House of Reps. He supports Ron Paul. Keep in mind that RP polled so well in Montana DESPITE the fact that the caucuses were closed to party insiders like Sales. The establishment out here actually likes RP - goes to show how we're eons away from the urban areas.
MontanaJack
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There is ALWAYS more room for Paulites 
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