That's how much Mike Huckabee paid to get his second place result in the Ames, Iowa Straw Poll. USA Today did an analysis:
• Third-place finisher Sam Brownback says he spent about $325,000 to win his 2,192 votes. That's $148.27 for each vote.
• Second-place finisher Mike Huckabee spent about $150,000 and received 2,587 votes. That's $57.98 per vote.
• Winner Mitt Romney has not said how much he spent. The reporting in this Washington Post article suggests at least $2 million and possibly more than twice that much. Assuming $2 million for 4,516 votes, that's $442.87 per vote. But it could top $1,000.
Mitt Romney gets no bump at all out of this. He spent $2 million while nobody else even had that kind of money. This straw poll is a pay-to-play where candidates bus in their own supporters. Romney should have won and he did. He gets no increase in standing, but he doesn't lose either. Net result, no change.
Huckabee wins because, in the political analysis presented in this piece, it's apparent that his votes came from more than just money and political organization. Apparently many of the voters bused in on other candidates transportation switched their vote at the last minute. This is saying something about Huckabee, something good. For his $150k he gets a ton of positive public press and attention that you can't buy at this stage.
Sam Brownback spent too much of his wad on a contest that ultimately means very little except generating a few headlines in the political sargasso season. And he didn't even get that. He's done, even if he doesn't know it.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Huckabee himself has said that he spent $90,000. The $150,000 number included everything he had done in Iowa since he began campaigning. On the actual straw poll however, Huckabee said he spend $90,000.
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Patrick at 10:35AM on Aug 14th 2007
2. Didn't the US beat Japan in WWII? The fact that Japan spent less doesn't seem to matter.
Nate at 12:14PM on Aug 14th 2007
3. The fair tax people paid for a lot of his support.
Dan at 1:04PM on Aug 14th 2007
4. I think the results at the Straw Poll reflects the strength of each candidate.Without doubt Mitt Romney is the strongest GOP candidate out there right now and that is the trueth.All the candidates name were on the ballot whether they were there or not,it didn't really matter.If some Republican are trying to make some excuses then they're peddling backward instead of admitting and support Mitt Romney as the strongest candidate and the real winner.I see Romneys win as the eagle that is now flying away spreading its wing any attempt to shoot it down is either too late or it will not work.The trueth is Mitt Romney will be the next President of the United State no matter who's the Democratic candidate is,Hilliary? only an angel from above can save her.
KaM at 3:06PM on Aug 15th 2007
5. Dear World, You don't get it, do you? The fact that Romney spent 2 Mil means that he had 2 mil to spend. If he didn't have the support of the people and the organization to collect 2 Mil, he couldn't have spent it. The straw pole was a test of organization, commitment, hard work and support. Romney is the only candidate that passed with flying colors. He has proven that he is the only one with the leadership abilities necessary to succeed.
Ron at 6:26PM on Aug 14th 2007
6. At these rates, getting the 60 million or so votes to get elected President will be quite an expensive adventure.
Steve Bonomo at 7:15PM on Aug 14th 2007
7. Think of it this way...Either we elect a candidate that will donate the 400k to charity when elected, or we elect someone that will keep the 400k paycheck on top of their ammased moneys...I dont know about you, but I think Romney has a head on his shoulders...
Jen at 8:37PM on Aug 14th 2007
8. Is it possible Romney is using funds from some of the corporations owned by the Mormon Church?
Are the Mormons trying to buy the White house?
Romey is a priest of the Mormons
His line about his religion is stated to sound like a Christian, but it is the same line the door bell ringing mormons s
use to confuse the Christians they want to convert. It promotion of their religion by deception. Is Romney proving to be a candidate by deception?
Writer at 8:34PM on Aug 14th 2007
9. this is the very reason why candidates shouldn't be able to spend more than a certain amount of money in each poll. Romney spent so much money that he wont even tell the public what he spent. this is wrong because people are no longer voting because u have a good word but because u have a lot of money. u will never get a true and real president when people can use their money to influence ur votes. RON PAUL 2008..
kenisthaman2005 at 8:43PM on Aug 14th 2007
10. Ron Paul dominated the poll. Only fraud, deceit and treachery won Romney the top position. Allowing the next 3 to be places 2nd, 3rd and 4th only gives Romney more of a chance to beat the odds. Put it to a test. No paid votes, just a simple PAPER ballot and see who comes out on top. It will be the Honest Public Servant who stands for what he preaches. RON PAUL Google him.
Granny Warrior at 9:39AM on Aug 15th 2007
11. Ron Paul dominated the poll. Only fraud, deceit and treachery won
Romney the top position. Allowing the next 3 to be places 2nd, 3rd
and 4th only gives Romney more of a chance to beat the odds. Put it
to a test. No paid votes, just a simple PAPER ballot and see who
comes out on top. It will be the Honest Public Servant who stands
for what he preaches. RON PAUL Google him
Granny Warrior at 9:42AM on Aug 15th 2007
12. I was at the Ames Poll. What a education in deceit and underhanded actions. First romneys people were totally paid, bought, owned, and didn't have much excitement about the whole situation. Romney bragged about stuffing the ballot boxes and that is exactly what he did, when he was losing he simply had his staff member who was on the board tallying the votes call a error in the ballot machines. Low and behold he started winning big time. This behavior may come back and bite him in the butt.
Ron Paul's totally volunteer people dominated the crowds. And he didn't have to buy their loyalty.
http://www.grannywarriors.com/ames.htm Google Ron Paul, see what he is all about, join the Revolution.
Granny Warrior at 9:50AM on Aug 15th 2007
13. Grannywarrior, You are right, RON Paul is the ONLY honest Repubican in the race. All of the rest are Council on Foriegn Relations toadies who dont give a whit about America or Americans
Heidi at 9:57AM on Aug 15th 2007
14. Sounds like Romney employed alot of people on his campaign. Something dems hate. Think aabout where the money actually went. Signmakers, postermakers, painters, camera operators, editors, stage hands etc etc etc. Seems the dems can't stand these people working instead they want your tax money so they put them in welfare lines and eventually back in the Gulags, Workcamps, Concentration camps and Plantations. I will take this blog and just put it on the trash heap of failed socialism where it rightly belongs.
DL at 10:44AM on Aug 15th 2007
15. You would think that "they" would come up with something more useful than how much each vote cost. Perhaps what each candidate ate for breakfast or how many hours do they sleep each night? When the media stoops to this kind of spin you know they are becoming increasingly fearful that someone with morals and values might get elected. Morals and values represents accountability which liberals fear more than freedom itself.
Rick at 11:00AM on Aug 15th 2007