Web posted
Monday, February 11, 2008
Local GOP supports Huckabee
By DAVE SEATON
Winfield Publishing
Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas won the Republican caucus in Sumner County hands down.
Sumner County Republicans hosted Cowley County Republicans at the high school in Belle Plaine. Sumner County GOP chairman Ray La Boeuf reported the following outcomes:
Huckabee 286, John McCain 86, Ron Paul 31, Mitt Romney 3, Alan Keyes 2, Rudy Gulliani 2, undecided 2.
Voting was by paper ballot. Only registered Republicans could vote.
An estimated 425 people voted at the caucus. Candidates' campaign literature graced several tables in a large lobby area of the gymnasium.
Activity at Huckabee's table was far greater than at McCain's or any other, but several people interviewed said if McCain won the nomination they would support him.
Retired Col. Mike Lind of Arkansas City spoke for Huckabee to an audience of about 100 in a nearby auditorium. "If it comes to it," Lind said later, "I'll support McCain."
Rachele Bloyer of Winfield was helping at McCain's table, though she said she preferred Huckabee.
"He's a Republican," Bloyer said of McCain. "I'll take him over Hillary or Obama any day." Bloyer was one of three members of the Cowley College Republican Club who volunteered at McCain's table.
Some voters seemed determined to stick with Huckabee, primarily because of his stand on family values.
Three families provided five college-age volunteers at a registration table. All but one were home-schooled.
The families were those of Pete and Karen DeGraaf of Mulvane, Graham and Charla Hamilton of Peck and Lance and Carla Brooks of rural Udall. Other young volunteers sold food and performed other tasks. One, Jamie Hyle, took the podium for McCain.
Carla Brooks helped staff Huckabee's table, along with Loren Hathaway of Peck. "I'm just looking for a conservative candidate," Hathaway said. "This candidate (Huckabee) comes closest to my views."
Ann Hathaway, Loren's wife, spoke for Huckabee from the podium.
Graham Hamilton is treasurer of the Sumner County Republican central committee. Karen DeGraaf is its secretary.
Ron Paul was represented by David Denton of Wichita, who emphasized Paul's commitment to the Constitution. "I think the Republican party is not truly conservative any more," Denton said.
Pete DeGraaf manned a table for Alan Keyes. "We thought every candidate ought to have a voice," DeGraaf said.
Romney and Gulliani, both of whom have dropped out of the race, remained on ballots printed earlier. Results of the voting were sent to the state Republican Party headquarters for an announcement Saturday evening, La Boeuf said.
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