Ron Paul wins Idaho’s GOP straw poll

The Idaho Republican Party’s first presidential straw poll tonight was won decisively by Ron Paul, with 173 votes of the 359 GOP members attending and paying $30 to cast a ballot at the party fundraiser at the Riverside Hotel in Boise. Mitt Romney came in second at 135 votes. Here are the other results:

Newt Gingrich – 47
Rick Santorum – 40
Jon Huntsman – 4

Rick Perry’s campaign asked not to be included on the straw poll ballot.

“The Idaho Republican Party congratulates Congressman Ron Paul on his straw poll victory tonight,” said Idaho GOP Chairman Norm Semanko, who added, “It was a packed house tonight, the energy was contagious, and the Idaho Republican Party is looking forward to making Barack Obama a one-term President! ”

Jesse Benton, national campaign chairman for Paul’s 2012 campaign, said in a statement, “Ron Paul has a tremendous support base in the oft-overlooked but important state of Idaho.  This straw poll win is a positive early indicator that as we focus even more on Pacific Northwest contests, Idaho will stand out as one of the states where Ron Paul has a competitive edge over his establishment competitors.”