Updated Monday afternoon
Rep. Ron Paul was named the winner of the as the state’s Republicans showed their preference for their party’s presidential nomination to oppose President Barack Obama.
"I congratulate Congressman Paul on his victory," Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady said in a statement. "It is clear Illinois Republicans are gearing up for a tremendous year in 2012."
Paul took 52 percent of the votes cast both online since Oct. 29 and in person Saturday in 20 locations throughout the state, including the . Georgia businessman Herman Cain was second (18 percent), former Massachusetts Mitt Romney third (14 percent), and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich fourth (9 percent).
Far behind were Texas Gov. Rick Perry (2.5 percent), former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (1.5 percent), former Sen. Rick Santorum and Rep. Michele Bachmann (1.1 percent).
With the early stages of the 2012 presidential election already unfolding in the nation's primary states, Illinois Republicans are hoping to make an impact of their own.
"This poll is really an opportunity for Illinois voters to have a voice in this presidential election, which is great because there's a lot of interest and excitement right now both nationally and locally," said Sig Vaznelis, chairman of the Cook County Republican Party.
A vote in the straw poll cost $5.
According to the Illinois Straw Poll website, voters must make a monetary contribution "to help the defray the costs of running the straw poll." Because Illinois does not have party registration, the Illinois Republican Party believes that requiring a contribution "will help limit the straw poll to committed Republicans who are legally qualified to vote."
Vaznelis said the money raised through the straw poll will go to the Illinois GOP, which will distribute the money to county Republican groups across the state.
"The money will be used to get the vote out next year," Vaznelis said. "There's a perception that this state is totally blue, but we feel that Illinois is in play."
For more information on the straw poll, visit www.illinoisstrawpoll.com.
Here is Patch's policy regarding objectivity and transparency. "At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. We also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. In the spirit of simple honesty, we encourage editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license to inject our beliefs into stories or dictate coverage according to them. Rather, we hope the knowledge our beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair and balanced manner. If you ever see evidence we failed in this mission, please let us know." As I see it, Lorraine's colorful comments still conform to our policy. She doesn't want to vote for any of the candidates listed on this particular straw poll ballot, and she feels much the same about Democrats. It would seem her general opinion of politicians mirrors that of most independents, actually. We believe in transparency at Patch, and her comments here are as transparent as you can get. It's better to know the beliefs of our editors than to guess at them. All the best, Dennis Robaugh regional editor, Chicago
Just think how nice it would be if other news organizations were as honest!
This type of openness is an element of Patch I am rather grateful for. I remember being threatened along with an entire newsroom with disciplinary action should any of us engage in "excessive reactions to election results" while covering the 2008 election. It felt like 1984 on what is usually a great night of energy in a newsroom. And as a voter I am quite disappointed by the field on both sides as well, though they are good for a laugh or two.
You have been insulting people from early on into this thread, and yet I haven't seen a constructive argument from you. Just dogmatic, one sentence, my way or the highway lobs. I'm simply asking for you to elaborate on your argument. Lastly, your first comment instructs Lorraine to report the news fair balanced with no opinion. Please find me an article on http://Oaklawn.patch.com where she did not. I hope you have considerable free time today to look. You'll need it.
Someone needs to be reminded that everyone has the right to free speech here in the USA. Opinons are not right or wrong, they're just that...opinions. No one is forcing anyone to agree with anyone else's opinion, and are free to their own thoughts. When someone keeps posting comment after comment just to pick on others who don't share their same view, it not only loses focus on their original point, but it comes off more as bullying to me, so I don't waste time reading that person's comments anymore. If you don't agree with others...great! Other views often shed light on new ideas to help improve this country. So post your thoughts to support why you support your views. But you also have to accept that others can actual having different thoughts then you too...so once you've made your point...let go and move on. As for the comments about Lorraine and her posting her opinion...what makes her any different from the opinion columnists in the Tribune, WSJ, NYTimes, etc? They all have regular columnists who freely give their opinion on topics, and it doesn't cheapen the quality of those new media sources. As for this article...I too, have yet to find a candidate with any party yet who is worthy of my $5, let alone my vote too. So I'm anxiously awaiting some candidate worthy of my vote too.
Also, Lorraine's opinion was in the comments section and she seems evenly opposed to the candidates on both sides. She also had the Patch logo (not that she needs it. we all know her). All reporters have opinions but they set them aside when they're reporting a story. You need to look at her published articles. They're always fair and objective.
... And for the record, when I was the President of the United States we sorted our differences by use if words such as harumph, and poppycock. When that didn't work we would drink brandy and take turns slapping each other with our gloves. Oh, I miss my glory days.