Residents stumped for their chosen candidates; Gingrich favorite among attendees in straw poll.
First Coast voters got a chance to stand by their man at Angie’s Caucus Tuesday night.
Hosted by Angie’s Subs owner Ed Malin, the free event offered the public a chance to rally around their chosen candidate.
After serving lunch, Angie’s Subs on Beach Boulevard transformed into a rally and poll site, complete with soapbox, campaign signs and a straw poll administered by Jerry Holland, Duval County Supervisor of Elections.
By the end of the event, Newt Gingrich emerged as the favorite of attendees, winning about 43 percent of the vote. Ron Paul was the runner up with about 26 percent, followed by Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. All in all, 323 ballots were cast.
Starting at 6 p.m., members of the audience were invited to take to the soapbox and speak on behalf of their chosen candidates.
Andrea Anthony, representing Newt Gingrich, was first to speak. Anthony and her husband Malcolm Anthony hosted Gingrich recently at a fundraiser in their Ponte Vedra home.
Although clearly a Gingrich supporter, Anthony’s speech emphasized the fact that Republicans would eventually need to unite behind a single candidate.
“The No. 1 goal,” Anthony said, “is to get rid of Obama.”
Speakers after Anthony echoed her sentiment. These stand-ins for the candidates spoke first in favor of their candidate and then reminded the audience that Republicans would need to come together behind the candidate chosen — even if that candidate was not “their man.”
Speakers representing Gingrich, Romney, Santorum and Paul took their turns at the podium as attendees lined up to cast their ballots.
Rick Hartley was the first person to speak on behalf of Rick Santorum on Tuesday.
“When you go hunting,” he said, “you don’t take a fishing rod. You take the right tool to catch the game. Rick Santorum is the right man for the specific job.”
Although the crowd remained amiable for most of the speeches, some members of the audience booed Hartley when he said Ron Paul would not “make it.”
Hartley called out all of the other candidates, calling Mitt Romney “the poster child for the 1 percent” and Newt Gingrich “a good man who has made some terrible decisions.”
Through cheers and jeers, the soapbox was occupied for most of the three hour event. People lining Beach Boulevard held signs and waved. Ron Paul supporters made a strong showing with more signs visible than any other candidate.
In the end, however, Gingrich was the favorite of the evening.
After her speech, Andrea Anthony talked about meeting Gingrich.
“Speaking to him really gives you confidence in him,” Anthony said. She spoke highly of Gingrich, talking about how personable he had been when he visited Ponte Vedra. At the event in November, Gingrich took time to speak personally to all of those in attendance.
The event on Tuesday was sponsored in its entirety by Angie’s Subs owner Ed Malin, who is active in the First Coast Tea Party. The FCTP will gather tonight to watch the CNN debate at Mudville Grille, 3105 Beach Blvd.
kelly@opcfla.com
(904) 686-3943
