-
John Kerry, Secretary of Gaffes
April 25, 2013 | 9 comments
-
Rand Paul and Marco Rubio at CPAC
March 14, 2013 | 0 comments
-
SEQUESTER: The Dumbest Weight-Loss Plan Ever
March 1, 2013 | 0 comments
-
Israel’s Hard-Right Turn That Wasn’t
January 22, 2013 | 1 comment
-
Deep Space Nine, Twenty Years Later
January 3, 2013 | 23 comments
The Spectacle Blog
Ames, Iowa — The polls just closed and the results aren’t in yet, but no hedging is necessary: Michele Bachmann is going to win the Ames Straw Poll. The lines into her tent have been long all day, and they’ve had to buy more tickets to hand out at least twice.
As for the rest of the field: If I had to guess I’d say Ron Paul comes in second. From eyeballing the crowd it looks like there are as many Pawlenty supporters as Paul supporters — the former stand out because the Pawlenty campaign has been handing out green t-shirts — but the Paul supporters are so much more intense in their commitment to their man. Pawlenty’s support is soft enough that, given a random green-shirted man here, I wouldn’t bet my life on T-Paw getting his vote.
I’m guessing that Rick Santorum will edge out Herman Cain for fourth place. The crowd at their tents were comparable last time I looked, and the crowd in the stadium responded much more enthusiastically to Cain, but Santorum spoke first and Cain spoke last, to a smaller crowd, many of whom had probably already voted (there was only an hour left at that point); if it had been the other way around I’d bet on Cain doing better.
The other candidate who bought space at Ames, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, had almost no one at his tent all day, and very few people were interested in hearing him speak in the stadium. I’m not sure why he even bothered to show up here. He’ll most likely finish behind candidates who didn’t.
Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman, and Newt Gingrich are on the ballot but made no effort. There is a small but noticeable write-in effort here for Rick Perry, who just announced his candidacy in Charleston, SC; I would bet on Perry beating Romney.
More to come after the results are announced.
View all comments (18) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/08/13/predictions-on-ames
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- His Reach Exceeded His Grasp
- Overheated Frauds and Fools
- Walk the Line
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Reaganaut| 8.13.11 @ 6:13PM
What kind of opposition to "The
One" is this, if the top R candidates are Bachmann, Paul, Santorum and Tpaw? This is joke. Perry and Romney are the only credible candidates and let the games begin!
C Bowen| 8.13.11 @ 6:49PM
It's an opposition from the heart of remains of an American remnant. If you had a heart, Tin Man, you'd understand.
O Tamandua| 8.13.11 @ 7:31PM
(Don't look now, but "The One" has been in negative 20plus approval territory the past five days on Rasmussen Reports - a new record low for him. Rush Limbaugh's been saying Elmer Fudd could be Obama for awhile now, and I get the feeling more and more will be sharing that sentiment.)
O Tamandua| 8.13.11 @ 7:32PM
"be" = "beat".
Ken (Old Texican)| 8.13.11 @ 6:20PM
Paulbot ignoramouses always show up...just like here. Tin foil hats are cheap.
C Bowen| 8.13.11 @ 6:47PM
You were the guy scared of Saddam right? And you supported Perry's fight against genital warts with forced vaccinations because that is a big Texas problem?
Clint| 8.13.11 @ 7:58PM
Kenny's The Toughest Hombre West Of His Beer.
wj| 8.13.11 @ 8:52PM
Yes these clowns were afraid of Saddam and because of that debacle, they gave us Obama.
If the Republicans don't purge the neonuts then the Dems will hold power forever.
Occam's Tool| 8.13.11 @ 6:53PM
C Bowen---it's the risk of CERVICAL CANCER, not warts, that is the big deal behind vaccination.
Paul should win the straw poll running away because it is small and his Paulbots are organized idiots who support Nukes for Iran. However, BTO is going to go "running down the highway" on his worthless ass---the American people would rather have someone who has worked on a kibbutz than the Whiny Pot Supporting Maniac Nuke Supporting piece of flotsam from Galveston. Michele is gonna take a cheese grater to him.
C Bowen| 8.13.11 @ 7:30PM
I get it--the risk of cervical cancer, because Texas teenage girls tend to 'get around' if I get your meaning, makes Perry a visionary.
Clint| 8.13.11 @ 7:47PM
That's Pretty Bold Talk For A Little Short, at, Aging Israel Firster Screwball Fanatic There, Tool Job.
The Tea Party Steps On Tool Job's Face.
Wipe Your Feet.
Margie| 8.14.11 @ 12:46PM
Better watch out, punk.
God might be wantin' to wipe His feet on your face.
wj| 8.13.11 @ 8:49PM
Bachman worked in a kibbutz. Who gives a rat's ass and how does that qualify her for anything? She is a psycho neocon who won't beat Obama. Perhaps you just hate Americans that put America first.
Occam's Tool| 8.13.11 @ 7:00PM
Bachmann win, Paul second, Pawlenty third. This is the highpoint of the Paul campaign, as Perry has entered the race.
The AmericanPeople's Asskicking of Ron Paul's Political Prospects Begin. America is the indispensable country, exceptional apart from all others. Paul is Kucinich's pal on foreign policy, and it is going to destroy a candidacy which is fairly good on domestic issues, as Americans do NOT want a Dhimmi Hamas Supporter in the office of POTUS. One is enough, thanks.
Clint| 8.13.11 @ 7:44PM
" Rick Perry supported Lance Armstrong’s 3 billion dollar Texas taxpayer funded medical research center. That’s like ObamaCare. That’s not free market.
Rick Perry, secured a 300 million dollar business handout slush fund for him and just the two leaders of the legislature to dole out to whomever he felt like being friendly to. That’s corporate welfare, a recipe for corruption, and as bad as the TARP bailouts that caused the Tea Parties to explode all across America. In fact, Perry gave 20 million dollars to Countrywide Financial which later went bankrupt.
He supported a new state business tax. He set up toll road tax collection booths all over Texas highways. The Austin Tea Party and the Austin Toll Party booed him on the steps of the state Capitol for that.
Rick Perry, signed an executive order forcing young Texas schoolgirls to get the HPV vaccine even if it was against their will — even if it was against their parents’ will — while his former chief of staff was a lobbyist for Merck. Perry's judgment was so bad the Texas legislature revolted against him and overturned his decision,"
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.
Carpe Diem.
Margie| 8.14.11 @ 12:44PM
Amen to that, O.T.!
Clint| 8.13.11 @ 7:06PM
We Tea Party Patriots Placed Our Presidential Candidates In A Tight One-Two Punchout.
Aaaaaand, The Screwball Israel Firster Fanatics Never Saw Dr. Ron Paul's Voters Coming.
Michele Bachmann Got 4,823
Dr. Ron Paul Got 4,671
The Tea Party Rebellion Has Changed The Dynamics Of Elections.
Carpe Diem.
Sean| 8.13.11 @ 7:09PM
I was a good showing for Paul. Bachmann is from Iowa and had Randy Travis throw her a concert. Losing by 152 votes isn't bad. Paul is the only declared candidate that I would trust to get us back on track as a country.