Quin Monson, BYU pollster extra-ordinaire, released results of polling done before and after the recent GOP state convention. He had a response rate of approximately 40% and found some interesting results. Here are the ones that stood out for me:

*In the pre-convention survey, Bob Bennett and Tim Bridgewater were tied exactly at 22.7%, Cherilyn Eagar was at almost 12% and Mike Lee far ahead at just under 39% of the vote. The actual results showed some interesting shifting. Eagar gained votes, probably based on her well-received speech and ended up with almost 16% (not enough to go on to the next round, however). Senator Bennett gained votes and got just shy of 26%. Tim Bridgewater gained votes and got just shy of 27%. Mike Lee lost about 1/4 of his pre-convention supporters and received 28.8% of the votes cast.

*In a “favorability” vote pre-convention, Lee and Bridgewater were separated by only a fraction of one-percent – 73.11% for Lee, 72.81% for Bridgewater, meaning most delegates viewed them equally favorably.

*Even more interesting were the third-round results, where the actual convention votes were almost exactly the opposite of the pre-convention leanings. In the poll taken before convention, respondents chose Lee over Bridgewater, 57.4%-42.6%. In actual voting, businessman Tim Bridgewater received 57.3% of the delegate vote while attorney Mike Lee received 42.7% of the vote. Had Senator Bennett advanced to the third round, either Lee or Bridgewater would have handily received the nomination, with over 70% of the vote.

*Specifically addressing the convention presentations, the top 4 candidates were “graded” on a 100-point scale. Bridgewater had the most favorable presentation, with a “grade” of 80.81%. He was followed by Cherilyn Eagar with a “grade” of 65%, then Mike Lee with 62% and ending with Senator Bennett receiving a “grade” of 56%.

*Post-convention polling specifically looked at a negative mailer showing Mike Lee in front of an LDS temple, Bob Bennett in front of the US Capitol and asking “Which candidate really has Utah values”? 50% of delegates received the flyer prior to convention, 12% received if after and almost 40% did not receive it at all. Based on first impressions, 35% believed the flyer came from the Mike Lee camp, while over 50% believed it came from a group not affiliated with any of the candidates. Over 70% felt it was inappropriate. However, when asked if the mailer influenced their vote towards Mike Lee, Bob Bennett or “other”, the average response made it clear that it did not. They either strongly or somewhat disagreed that the flyer influenced their vote.

Other results from the delegates view of the world:
*97.4% feel the country is headed in the wrong direction
*70% feel the state is headed in the right direction
*24% attended caucuses for the first time this year
*over 1/3 had attended 6 or more caucuses
*50% said this was the first time they had been elected as a delegate
*A mere 25% were women
*Only 18% strongly agreed that they went to the caucuses for a specific candidate
*Over 85% of the delegates have a somewhat or strong favorable impression of the tea party movement
*42% consider themselves to be active participants in the movement
*A whopping 98% of the delegates consider themselves somewhat or strongly conservative