Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul is the winner of a straw poll conducted among Golden State Republicans.
The Texas congressman drew large, boisterous crowds of supporters for several speaking appearances at the state party convention under way this weekend at the JW Marriott in downtown Los Angeles. He won roughly 45 percent of the 833 ballots cast.
"I think the main purpose of our Constitution and political action should be the preservation of liberty," Paul told delegates on Constitution Day.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose supporters also flocked to the poll site en mass, came in second place with 29 percent of the vote.
Trailing the two top picks was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who secured a distant third place slot with just 9 percent of the votes cast.
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who delivered the keynote address to delegates on Friday night, came in fourth place with 7.7 percent of the vote.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/09/ron-paul-wins-california-gop-straw.html
