State Senator Marlin Stutzman DID have the home field advantage. The Indiana Republican US Senate candidate also won the straw poll at the Kosciusko County Tea Party debate on Saturday. Stutzman’s legislative district includes a portion of Kosciusko County.
All five GOP hopefuls were on hand for the two hour debate. The event was standing room only. The venue…the Center Lake Pavillion holds 400 people. A crowd of perhaps double that showed up to see the event live…or watch it on television montiors outside.
In the overall straw poll vote (people both from Kosciusko County and from outside the county)…Tea Party organizer Richard Behney finished a close second followed by fellow Tea Party candidate Don Bates Jr. Former Congressman John Hostettler wound up in fourth. Former US Senator Dan Coats…who has gotten most of the national media coverage among the Republican candidate…finished in last in the straw poll.
Here are the straw poll results. They are broken down by Kosciusko County residents…and then an overall number:
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY:
Marlin Stutzman 39
Don Bates Jr. 20
Richard Behney 15
John Hostettler 7
Dan Coats 3
OVERALL:
Marlin Stutzman 80
Richard Behney 76
Don Bates Jr. 47
John Hostettler 18
Dan Coats 16