Ron Paul Wins Maryland Straw Poll

If Ron Paul can could win states the way he wins straw polls he'd be a shoo in.

From the WaPO:

Ron Paul Takes the Ribbon in State Fair's GOP Straw Poll

A curious thing happened this year at the Maryland Republican Party booth at the State Fair: A GOP presidential straw poll was won by Ron Paul, the idiosyncratic congressman from Texas who is a fierce critic of the Iraq war.

Perhaps just as curious was the Maryland GOP's decision to trumpet the results in a news release last week with the headline: "Maryland GOP Presidential Straw Poll Is a Big Success; Grassroots Candidate Wins Surprise Upset."

According to the release, Paul received 263 votes, and former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani (for whom Republican former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is toiling) was second with 220 votes. (Ehrlich received three write-in votes.) Former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson-- who had yet to declare his candidacy -- finished third with 188 votes. No other candidate cracked 100 votes. more

I doubt that Ron Paul will get the nod from the GOP however I'm certain that campaign managers will be studying Ron Paul's tactics for years to come. Additionally he's doing a better job of promoting Libertarian ideas than the Libertarian party is in my humble opinion. Finally he's doing an excellent job getting disheartened citizens engaged/re-engaged in the political process. And if the GOP takes what he's been able to seriously they'll discover that some of the old principles the party was founded upon are new again.

For the three latter points Ron Paul is hereby awarded the Crapomatic Institute's highly prestigious "Way to Go" Award. Said award will be mailed to his campaign HQ in a week along with its prize; a fabulous federal debt note bearing the likeness of Abraham Lincoln or a digital equivalent of equal value. Congratulations Dr. Paul.

update:

Mr. Dyre42,

Thank you very much for your donation of $5.00 to the Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign.

Your donation will allow us to expand and grow our campaign.

We depend on donors like you to help us spread the message of freedom, peace and prosperity through Ron Paul’s candidacy.

Thanks for being a part of the campaign!

Your confirmation number:
T45149-93480791