The free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) announced the results of a nonpartisan straw poll taken at The Defending the American Dream Regional Conference on Sunday, June 10th in Bismarck.
Event attendees from both parties filled out the ballots indicating their choice for President of the United States, as well as their approval of President Bush, the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, Senator Byron Dorgan, Senator Kent Conrad, Congressman Earl Pomeroy, Governor John Hoeven, the North Dakota Legislature, and their own unidentifiable legislators. Approval ratings were based on a scale of 1-5 (5 being best).
The straw poll was conducted by AFP employees, and the order of candidate names was determined based on a random drawing. (A PDF image of the straw poll ballot is attached.) Fifty-one completed ballots were submitted.
The results of the non-partisan poll are as follows:
1st Place - Former Senator Fred Thompson (21 votes)
2nd Place – Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (7 votes)
3rd Place – TIE – Congressman Ron Paul (4 votes)
3rd Place – TIE – Former Governor Mitt Romney (4 votes)
4th Place – Congressman Duncan Hunter (3 votes)
5th Place – TIE – Senator John McCain (2 votes)
5th Place – TIE – Former Senator John Edwards (2 votes)
5th Place – TIE – Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (2 votes)
5th Place – TIE – Governor Bill Richardson (2 votes)
6th Place – TIE – Former Governor, Mike Huckabee (1 vote)
6th Place – TIE – Senator Hillary Clinton (1 vote)
6th Place – TIE – Senator Barack Obama (1 vote)
6th Place – TIE – Senator Sam Brownback (1 vote)
The following are the results of this opinion poll:
President Bush: 2.85 out of 5.
Senator Byron Dorgan: 1.41 out of 5.
Senator Kent Conrad: 1.44 out of 5.
Congressman Earl Pomeroy: 1.24 out of 5.
Governor John Hoeven: 2.95 out of 5.
U.S. Senate (as a whole): 1.58 out of 5.
U.S. House (as a whole): 1.71 out of 5.
N.D. Legislature (as a whole): 2.95 out of 5.
Unidentifiable Legislators of Participant: 3.34 out of 5.
“Achieving the American Dream is a goal that transcends party lines,” said Duane Sand, North Dakota State Director of Americans for Prosperity. “I am glad that Americans for Prosperity could provide this opportunity for North Dakota taxpayers to have their voices heard.”
