Obama, Romney, Kasten win Web poll

The readers of the Southeast Missourian Web site might not be indicative of the average voter, but they let their voice be heard, choosing their candidates for the presidential primary elections and the race for the 158th District Missouri House seat.

In an unscientific poll conducted Monday afternoon through 10 p.m. Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Republican Mary Kasten were the big winners.

Poll participants voted 154 times for Obama for the Democratic presidential primary, compared to 115 for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton. Romney won 90 votes in the poll for the Republican presidential primary, with U.S. Sen. John McCain getting 81. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a candidate with little vote-getting power in the real primaries, got 52 votes.

In all, 327 votes were cast in the 158th District poll, and those voters chose the winner of the real election in a close race. Kasten got 152 votes compared to 135 for Democrat Mike Keefe and 40 for Libertarian Steve Kinder.