Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels wins GOP presidential straw poll in Oregon

By Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian

March 6, 2011

SEASIDE -- Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels won a presidential straw poll Sunday at the Dorchester Conference, an annual retreat held every year for Oregon Republican activists.

Daniels took 66 of the 225 votes cast.  Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was second with 51 votes and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was third with 41 votes.

Daniels has not decided if he will run for president and he has not been a front-runner in early national polls.  But Rick Thomas, a GOP political consultant and Dorchester board member, said Daniels may have appealed to the “wonky” political insiders who are attracted to the conference.

Unlike in some years, there seemed little overt politicking to win the straw poll.  “Nobody really had any organizing going on at this point,” said Thomas.

Daniels also recently won a straw poll at a Republican Party gathering in Washington state.

Straw polls of party activists usually have little impact on the presidential nominating process, but they do offer a sense of who is exciting interest among those likely to get involved in campaigns.

Others receiving votes: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 23 votes; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 14; Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, 11; former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, 8; Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, 6; New York developer Donald Trump, 4; and President Barack Obama, 1.