Ron Paul Wins AlabamaIt may not have been the straw poll of last week where nearly 15,000 people showed for a million dollar dog and pony show, but one small victory for 2008 Presidential candidate Ron Paul was declared in Alabama. The Texas Congressman won that state's informal straw poll with only 266 ballots cast.
"People buy tickets, they get a meal and the vote for the candidate of their choice,” said Ron Paul supporter Mark Nielson.
Whether it's Romney, Giuliani, Thompson, or any of the other seven top republican candidates running for president, some Alabamians are speaking their mind in a straw poll.
“Before they vote, they listen to each candidate, albeit about 15 minutes in length. Fred Thompson, someone speaking for him, and obviously we have someone speaking for Ron Paul,” said Nielson.
Republicans from all over the state were expected to take part and to help their candidates get noticed.
“Well, Pat Robertson said when he ran for president, he won the Iowa straw poll, but it didn't mean a thing, so mainly this is to get the names of the candidates out,” said Carol Hagan of Jacksonville.
Alabama will play a more prominent role nationally in the 2008 election because the state's primary will be one of the first. Last spring, the Alabama legislature voted to move Alabama’s presidential primary up from June to February. Last month, Attorney General Troy King made the official request to the justice department. Legislators expect the department to approve the change.
Recently, a rally held for Ron Paul outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, attracted some 1500 to 2000 supporters. Paul also showed respected placement in last weekend's Iowa straw poll where he came in 5th place. Many supporters argue that Paul had actually won the straw poll when factoring in how much campaigning time he spent in Iowa, virtually none, compared with other candidates like Mitt Romney.
Ron Paul will also be getting some indirect exposure from Playboy Magazine, where it was announced Gambling911.com political betting analyst, Carrie Stroup, has been named Playboy "Babe of the Month". Gambling911.com has forecast thousands of inquiries for "Carrie Stroup" during the month of September based on previous traffic trends when another former Gambling911 reporter appeared in that men's magazine. Stroup's political reporting has been heavily fixated on the Ron Paul campaign.
Ron Paul was listed with 8 to 1 odds of becoming the next President of the United States.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
Originally published August 19, 2007 1:02 pm ET
