Reporter inquiry: How do you win so many straw polls?

[KasieHunt]

Hey all,

I am a Politico reporter working on a story about Dr. Paul to coincide with the CPAC Straw Poll on Saturday. I'm trying to answer a question I've had for a long time myself: Why does Dr. Paul win or do will at so many straw polls? (Our story will also look at Dr. Paul's presidential ambitions and whether he will run in 2012.)

I've taken a look around the forum and I'm going to include some things like your chip-ins, etc., but I'm really interested to talk to folks about why straw polls are a priority, what sets Dr. Paul's supporters apart from others, how you organize, etc.

My deadline is 2 p.m. today (Thursday). If you'd like to chat, drop me an email: [email protected].

Cheers
KH

 

[pmbug]

... Why does Dr. Paul win or do will at so many straw polls? ...

Because his supporters show up and vote for him.

Not sure if you were really paying much attention during the 2008 primary campaign, but the MSM was rather hostile to Dr. Paul. We can't rely on the MSM to give him fair coverage, so winning straw polls (which the MSM generally does report on) is one way to ensure he gets some attention/coverage. That's my $.02 anyway.

 

[specsaregood]

You are here to write a story coinciding with the cpac straw poll, and then ask why they are a "priority"? Seems a bit obvious, no?

Early on in 2007 and even now the media dismissed Dr. Paul's chances, writing him off, ignoring him, and trying to ignore us. Winning straw polls back in 2007 was one of the few ways that we could try to ensure that his name showed up at all in the media -- who was more than happy to otherwise ignore him. It was also a way to prove to the naysayers that we were not infact trolls/spammers hidden away in our mothers' basements and get together and have fun. "If you aren't having fun, you are doing it wrong."

I'd also argue that organizing for straw polls is similar to the efforts required in caucus states vs. primary states, and if you look at the results from 2007 you will find that Dr. Paul did better in early caucus states than he did in early primary states.

I think it should be worth noting, that while Dr. Paul encourages his supporters to participate in events such as the CPAC straw poll, he doesn't buy the tickets for them or pay them to attend, unlike some other media proclaimed "front runners".

 

[crhoades]

Everybody shows up hoping to meet Matt Collins.

 

[Brown Sapper]

I think it might be because we because in general we are very tech savvy and really good at networking. Combine that with a common goal and determination and we're a force to be reckon with. I bet we could pull of an awesome flash mob.

 

[Sola_Fide]

Everybody shows up hoping to meet Matt Collins.

/end thread.

 

[The Dark Knight]

Straw polls are practice for the Iowa Caucus and winning the polls gives Name ID to Dr Paul because he gets ignored by most Main Stream Media (although they have been nicer to him as of late) Without straw polls and the Internet, there is a good chance you would have never heard of Dr. Ron Paul. Its a Grassroots movement.

 

[CableNewsJunkie]

Back in 2007-2008, it was about increasing name recognition.

Today (for me), our straw poll dominance is a fun way of saying "In your face!" and "Wake up!" to all those out there who put how "Hollywood" a candidate is above what the candidate actually has to say.

 

[brandon]

Sent an email

 

[leonster]

We're also way more passionate about our candidate than almost anyone else is about their candidates. It's easy to get passionate about someone who has few personal ambitions, but wants to restore a vision. Pretty difficult to get energetic about someone who's in it because he thinks it would be cool to be President, though.

 

[KasieHunt]

This is all hugely helpful - thanks so much. Am curious about a couple of things - do you think Dr. Paul's supporters trend younger than other candidates? Does that make Internet organizing more effective? Also - do you think Paul supporters are more likely to want to run for Congress themselves or get involved in local parties, etc?

 

[DrN0]

Ron Paul supporters are true believers. It's not easy to beat true believers.

 

[specsaregood]

This is all hugely helpful - thanks so much. Am curious about a couple of things - do you think Dr. Paul's supporters trend younger than other candidates?

He probably appeals to many younger supporters, many that wouldn't otherwise be interested at all in politics. But in general the vast majority of his active in real life supporters I've met are middle-aged.

Does that make Internet organizing more effective?

Not because of the young people, but because it is a cost-effective means of organizing. The online organizing in my area is done by people in their late 40's or 50's.

Also - do you think Paul supporters are more likely to want to run for Congress themselves or get involved in local parties, etc?

Well that's exactly what Dr. Paul has urged us to do, so yes you could say that. And that is what is different now vs. 2007. Back in 2007 almost none of his supporters had much actual experience in politics. That is less true today.

 

[DrN0]

He has more supporters in the young crowd compared to his opponents, but his demographics are crazy all over the place. Young old black white military. The thing that counts is that we show up, and we put our money where our mouths are.

 

[Epic]

1. Ron Paul's supporters do trend younger than other candidates' supporters. Sources: PPP polling data (see their crosstabs on polls), plus see the amount of college kids that turn out at college rallies. Some crowds have been over 1000 the last couple years for RP on college campuses, even though there was no imminent presidential election.

2. Ron Paul's supporters focus on straw polls because they are an effective, cheap way to increase his popularity and name recognition. When Drudge flashes "Ron Paul wins Straw Poll", it *does* make him more popular to the conservative faithful. The psychology to the reader of the media reports is "Well, if he's good enough for the most hardcore conservative activists, then he's good enough for me!"

3. Ron Paul does well at straw polls because his supports are the most hardcore/enthusiastic/intense/willing to make sacrifices. His support is not too "wide", but it is very deep. Contrast that with Huckabee and Romney, whose support is fairly wide, but those positives are very "soft". Very few of the people who give Huckabee and Romney's positive favorables in polls would actually spend time helping them get elected in a primary. Ron Paul's supporters care the most.

4. If we look at the the axis that goes from support being "wide, but not deep" (Romney) to "deep, but not too wide" (Ron Paul), we can match the depth of the support to winning straw polls and caucuses, while the width of support is important in winning primaries. This is where Ron Paul may struggle, because intensity of support is worth less. However, by the New Hampshire Primary, Ron Paul will likely have dominated straw polls, including the Iowa (Ames) Straw Poll, and Iowa Caucuses, thereby increasing the width of his support.

5. Internet absolutely makes organizing more effective. See the 2008 moneybombs. It also demonstrates, based on things like search engine trend rankings and youtube search results, which candidates are captured the Internet public's interest. Right now, Ron Paul has more youtube video results than Barack Obama!

 

[mello]

Ron Paul was the reason I voted for the first time.

PS. When you do write about him, please don't use, "quixotic" to describe him.
I never realized how biased journalists were until I had a man in the race.

PSS. If you have time, can you also write a story about how a stopwatch works & then
forward it to Anderson Cooper. It really bugged me when he not only gave certain
candidates 3-4 times the amount of talk time during his CNN/Politico debate, he
also spoke more than Dr. Paul did.

 

[TomtheTinker]

Why does Dr. Paul win or do will at so many straw polls? (Our story will also look at Dr. Paul's presidential ambitions and whether he will run in 2012.

I believe the reason Ron Paul wins so many straw polls has to do with the message and philosophy he stands behind. Many candidates are simply in it to satisfy their political ambition..with Dr. Paul its different. Paul easily has the most principled and dedicated group of supporters which translates into straw poll success, but without a media push it is difficult to get our message out to the masses. I truly believe the media is not only missing a great story, but does a great injustice to the people of this country who are oblivious to the fact Paul and his message of Personal liberty exists.

why straw polls are a priority, what sets Dr. Paul's supporters apart from others, how you organize, etc.

Simply put..Straw polls are important because we must get the word out. What sets us apart is our passion about the fundamental principles that made this country great and our understanding that we must return to those very same principles. I also wonder sometime on how the movement organizes it self, we definitely aren't organized from the top.

Dr. Paul's supporters trend younger than other candidates?

As in most revolutions in history..yes the Ron Paul Revolution does trend younger.

do you think Paul supporters are more likely to want to run for Congress themselves or get involved in local parties, etc?

It does seem that way but I have little to compare to...there are a couple people on this forum who are involved in politics. A state rep and a county clerk.

Ron Paul 2012

 

[specsaregood]

PS. When you do write about him, please don't use, "quixotic" to describe him.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1260&bih=644&q="ron+paul"+and+quixotic&aq=f&aqi=&aql=f&oq=
About 115,000 results

 

[sailingaway]

He's popular. People try to spin his wins as somehow different than if Mitt Romney wins (as if there is no coordination THERE, we just do ours online where the world can see us.) When Mitt wins it is 'sign of strong early organization necessary to win an election' and 'signs of where the activist energy is'. Somehow when Ron wins, they call it something else.

Also note his relative share of the vote, and the raw numbers of his CPAC vote in 2007 v last year, and likely this year (even if it isn't a win.) His supporters ALWAYS have been energized, but now he has a lot more of them. His ideas and his consistent record, from even when those ideas were marginalized, are very popular now. This isn't the same group of supporters as in 2007 -- or at least I think most of us aren't. I know I only ever heard about him in 2007, late.

People here tend to be jaded about politicians living up to their rhetoric, and are in love with Ron Paul's record. Other candidates are going to find THAT very hard to fake.

 

[roho76]

It's amazing what people will do for you when your not lying to them and paying them lip service only to turn around and vote for special favors and what ever fills your pockets with the most money. Dr. Paul has always been honest, principled and he has a voting record to match. I got involved after the first time I heard him speak, which unfortunately was not until 2007, because I had never heard a politician talk like that before. He definitely cured my apathy and gave me hope for the future of our country.