Oxford County Democrats [10/17/2003]

Straw Poll results

Oxford County Democrats conducted a free raffle and straw poll betweenSept. 28 and Oct. 5 at Fryeburg Fair, with more than 800 participants. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean was the winner, capturing 33 percent; followed by retired Gen. Wesley Clark, with 20 percent; Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry with 18 percent; Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman tied at 7 percent; Missouri Congressman RichardGephardt at 5 percent; former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and NorthCarolina Sen. John Edwards tied at 4 percent; Florida Sen. Bob Graham at 2 percent; and the Rev. Al Sharpton at 1 percent..A smaller poll was held at River Valley Expo in Rumford on Sept. 26 and 27. In that event, Wesley Clark garnered 27 percent; Howard Dean, 22 percent; JoeLieberman, 18 percent; and John Kerry, 12 percent; with the rest of the field in single digits. Polls earlier in the season, at events in Bethel, Andover andBuckfield found Dean and Kerry in the lead, either tied or very close.Cathy Newell, Oxford County Democratic chairwoman, described the straw pollas intentionally unscientific and non-binding a good way to start conversations, to welcome people to the event and to heighten interest inthe 2004 race. Winners of the raffle items were from Massachusetts and NewHampshire.