GOP turnout large; voters favor Romney
Crow Wing County Republicans turned out in big numbers and favored former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by a sizable margin in a four-person race in the GOP caucuses.
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The vote results were Romney, 242; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 194; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., 149; and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, 59. Receiving one write-in vote apiece were broadcaster Rush Limbaugh, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
The official turnout was 647.
Crow Wing County Republican Chair Dale Walz held the flag Tuesday night at the opening of the Republican Party caucus at Central Lakes College.» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Dale Walz, Crow Wing County chair, said the Republican turnout was approximately four times as many as he had ever seen in previous caucuses. He credited the turnout to the fierce competition for the presidential nomination.
"A slugfest is going on," the former state representative said.
Walz recalled attending his Oak Lawn Township precinct with only three or four people in previous years. This year, he said, there were more than 20 people in attendance.
Paul Lund addressed the full Crow Wing County Republican caucus Tuesday night at Central Lakes College.» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Republicans met at four sites throughout the county: Central Lakes College, Crosby-Ironton High School, Nisswa Elementary School and Crosslake Community Center. The GOP's presidential preference poll was non-binding, meaning that it did not directly reflect which candidate's delegates will travel to the national convention in St. Paul in September.
"I hope that it helped to have centralized locations," he said.
Tenlee Lund, deputy chair, assumed the task of assembling numbers from the four Crow Wing County sites and reporting votes to the state party. She was kept busy tabulating numbers and answering cell phone reports in the noisy CLC cafeteria. When all the county votes were tallied, she admitted that she never even got a chance to vote in her precinct.
Republicans Loretta Bush (left) and Terry Quick talked with caucus convener Mary Koep at the Crow Wing County Republican caucus Tuesday night at Central Lakes College.» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
"Lots of people are paying attention," she said. "That's a good thing."
Each of the Republican candidates had their supporters at the Central Lakes College caucus site.
Gabe Johnson, 25, a Brainerd accountant, wore a Ron Paul button and said the congressman would rein in federal spending.
"Small government, small taxes," he said, succinctly stating his reasons for supporting Paul.
Patrick Borden of Brainerd voted for Sen. McCain because the Arizona senator is pro-life and a moderate on social issues.
Tammy Schmidt of Baxter voted for Romney.
"I like his good business sense," she said. "I'm hoping he'll bring back level-headedness to our government."
J.D. Berns, 19, of Brainerd, liked McCain and expressed a little surprise that there wasn't more support for the candidate. This will be the first presidential election in which Berns will be eligible to vote.
"I like the fact that he's not afraid to look at every side of an issue," Berns said.
McCain, Berns said, will complete the withdrawal of troops from Iraq but will "do it smart." He also said McCain has the best chance to beat the Democratic candidate.
Former state Rep. Paul Gazelka urged fellow Republicans to consider voting for Huckabee.
The Republicans at CLC initially convened in the cafeteria but later split into precincts in the cafeteria and upstairs in a lounge and in classrooms.
Attending the CLC GOP site at Central Lakes College were Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, and Brainerd City Council member Kevin Goedker, Koering's primary opponent in 2006. Also attending was Chrissy Nakonsky of Brainerd, who recently announced his candidacy for the District 12A House seat now held by Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.