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It was a strong turnout for Republicans in District 52 on Tuesday. District 52 Chair John Meader of Scandia reports that caucus attendance grew by four times over 2006 with close to 1400 party members on hand. Overall in District 52, Gov. Mitt Romney was the winner in the non-binding presidential poll with 706 votes followed by Sen. John McCain with 309, Rep. Ron Paul with 185 amd Mike Huckabee with 180. "I was surprised by the Romney turnout," Meader said. Romney also won the statewide straw poll on Tuesday.
In District 52A, which covers the Forest Lake area (Scandia, Linwood, Columbus), Romney won the straw ballot with 320 followed by McCain with 134, Huckabee with 122 and Paul with 80. In the five Forest Lake precincts, Romney won by a 2 to 1 margin, collecting 132 ballots to 61 for McCain. Paul received 21 and Huckabee 42. On the 52B side, Romney received 386, McCain 175, Paul 105 and Huckabee 58.
Meader said Tuesday's turnout of 1400 included many first-time attendees. In 2006, the District 52 caucus had 355 in attendance. He said the move from March to Febuary and the link to Super Tuesday was the key in building interest. "I had no idea the impact would be this great," he said. In Scandia, he said, the caucus was six times higher than 2006 with about 80 percent of the attendees new participants.
Forest Lake resident Bob Linwood, at right, listens to the discussion during his precinct caucus session. District 52A Rep. Bob Dettmer of Forest Lake visited all five city precincts on Tuesday.
(Photo By Cliff Buchan)
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