Results of a straw poll conducted during Carson City's countywide Republican Central Committee precinct meeting Saturday showed Gov. Jim Gibbons coming out ahead of former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon and former federal judge Brian Sandoval.
In the U.S. Senate race, the poll gave Nevada Sen. Mark Amodei the edge over eight other Republican candidates who want a shot at unseating U.S. Sen. Harry Reid in the November general election.
"We had 93 voters, and we only did the poll for the governor's race and the Senate," said Jay Baldwin, second chair for the committee and in charge of the precinct meeting.
Final results of the poll in the governor's race were: Gibbons 37; Montandon 36; and Sandoval 20.
Poll results for the U.S. Senate race were: Amodei 34; former state Representative Sharron Angle 32; Attorney Danny Tarkanian of Las Vegas 15; former Nevada Republican Party chairwomen Sue Lowden 8; and conservative activist Bill Parson 4. Banker John Chachas, attorney Chuck Kozak, conservative activist Mike Wiley and newcomer Terry Suominen received no votes.
Baldwin said the turnout for Saturday's meeting wasn't what organizers had hoped for, but that goals were achieved.
"We prepared for 800 but only 100 showed up, so we did the best we could with what we had," Baldwin said.
Precincts were organized, platforms were developed and delegates to the county convention were elected, he said.
A resolution also was passed recognizing Carol Howell.
"She has been a stalwart in pulling together everyone and organizing the precincts," Baldwin said.
The county convention will be March 13 at Carson High School.