Poll says 81% Dissatisfied with GOP Picks for President

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Laura Grock/Martin Janis & Co.
(312) 943- 1100 X 13

Monday, August 06, 2007

GOP Dark Horse Surprises Front Runners in NFRA Convention Vote this Weekend

(DES MOINES, IA) - According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, Iowa GOP voters are expressing limited enthusiasm for the field of 2008 presidential aspirants. Just 19 percent of likely GOP caucus attendees said they were "very satisfied" with the field of candidates.

In the poll, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney led the field with 26 percent, with Rudolph Giuliani at 14 percent and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, not yet an announced candidate, at 13 percent. Insiders say the poll results are a microcosm of sentiment shared across the country and that the field for the GOP presidential nomination is wide open, spelling an opening for a strong dark horse candidate.

"Only 19 percent of Iowans are satisfied with their choices for President on the Republican side," said GOP Presidential candidate John Cox. "What a stunning indictment of the nine Republican candidates on that stage in Des Moines last night." Despite extensive campaigning, grassroots support, and pleas from three popular former governors - four-term Iowa Governors Terry Branstad and four-term Governor Robert Ray and former presidential candidate and Virginia Governor James Gilmore, ABC rejected Cox's request to be allowed into Sunday's GOP debate. An FCC complaint against ABC for "arbitrary exclusion" from the debate was filed by attorneys for the John Cox campaign on Friday.

"Americans want a President with an agenda, an unquenchable thirst for solutions," continues Cox. "Washington and Lincoln had that mission. They weren't imperialist presidents; they had a mission to save this nation and make it better; to solve problems. Add Reagan to that list for beating the USSR and restoring our confidence after Vietnam and Jimmy Carter. America survived that and we will survive George W. Bush. But the American people want more than survival. They want change. And the time for change is now...but with a GOP presidential candidate that people can truly believe in."

Cox's view was echoed again at a vote taken this weekend at the national convention for the National Federation of Republican Assemblies. "Members of the Federation came from all around the country to St. Louis this weekend to make their selection for President," said Dan Herren, National Campaign Director for John Cox. "John was given the opportunity to speak along with the other candidates. He received a standing ovation. Ironically, going into this Convention, almost no one at had even heard of John Cox. That's what democracy is all about."

On Sunday, the organization's membership voted on which Republican candidate to endorse, and John Cox came in 6th place receiving 8% of the vote. Cox received more votes than better known candidates such as Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, Tommy Thompson, and Newt Gingrich.

"It's time that the media allow the American people to look beyond the favored choices. It's time for democracy. It's time for truth. The American people deserve no less. And that's what the candidacy of John Cox stands for," said Cox.

John H. Cox, 51, is the first announced Republican candidate for President in 2008. In addition to running successful companies in real estate, law, and venture capital, John Cox helped turn around major potato chip manufacturer, Jays Foods, saving hundreds of jobs and turning millions of dollars in loss into profit. He served on is a former president of the Cook County Republican Party and is on the ballot for Iowa's upcoming straw poll.

POLL RESULTS

Des Moines Register Poll. In a May 12-16, 2007 Des Moines Register poll, John Cox had 1% - the same as Duncan Hunter and Jim Gilmore and more than Ron Paul, all of whom have been invited to participate in the New Hampshire debate at this point.

South Carolina Presidential Straw Polls. In South Carolina, John Cox defeated Tom Tancredo, Tommy Thompson, Jim Gilmore, Sam Brownback, and Ron Paul overall in the County Republican Party Presidential Straw Polls that were conducted in April 2007. Also in South Carolina, John Cox came in 1st place in the Aiken County Republican Party Presidential Straw Poll, and placed 2nd in the McCormick County Straw Poll.

Iowa Republican Chairman Survey. In Iowa, the website www.IowaPolitics.com conducted a survey of all of the County Republican Chairmen asking them who they would be willing to support for President. John Cox placed 5th in this survey.

Campaign Organization. Our campaign has a vast network of paid staff and volunteers in New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina. We have campaign organizations established in more than 30 states. John Cox has campaigned extensively in those states over the past 14 months, spending over 60 days in New Hampshire, 90 days in Iowa and 40 days in South Carolina - more than just about all the other candidates. According to FEC Campaign Disclosures, John Cox has spent more than $800,000 on this campaign, more than most of the other candidates included in the June 5th debate.

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For media inquiries, please contact Laura Grock at (312) 943-1100 X 13. For more information regarding John Cox and his presidential campaign, please visit: www.cox2008.com Contact: Dan Herren, National Communications Director, phone: 864-230-5334; E-mail: danherren@hotmail.com