Posted over at public affairs website Flashreport is a piece on the recent "California Straw Poll" conducted informally conducted over the recent labor Day holiday weekend at the California State Fair in Sacramento. The survey was administered at a booth hosted by the Sacramento County Republican Party.

Thanks to Flashreport Northern California correspondent Tab Berg for this account of the poll, and the results of the late 2007 summer gauge of support for the GOP's candidates, which was apparently won for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani:

Local news carried the story about Mayor Rudy Giuliani winning the "California straw poll" conducted by the Sacramento Republican Party at the California State Fair.

Volunteers at the GOP booth asked fair attendees to cast their ballot for a Republican presidential candidate.

The winner was former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani with 31 percent of the vote. Former U.S. senator and actor Fred Thompson came in second with 24 percent. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had 19 percent and Sen. John McCain received 8 percent of the vote.

"Our straw poll will give candidates and leaders of the California Republican Party an indication as to how California Republicans will vote come next February 5," said Carl Burton, Vice Chairman of the Sacramento County Republican Party.

Poll organizers say more than 1,622 valid ballots were cast during the fair.