With only a few days left before special convention delegates choose a Republican nominee in Iowa’s third Congressional district, David Young got a boost from a “poll” by the conservative blog Caffeinated Thoughts. The blog set up a closed, online survey last week and circulated the link to delegates via e-mail.

There’s no way to know whether the 118 people who filled out the survey are representative of some 500 district convention delegates or alternates who will gather in Urbandale on June 21. If they are, it’s good news for Young, who finished fifth in the June 3 voting. Asked which candidate they support, 27 percent of delegates named Young, equal to the percentage backing State Senator Brad Zaun, who won a plurality of votes in the primary. Some 19 percent of delegates who responded named Robert Cramer, 14 percent Monte Shaw (widely seen as Governor Terry Branstad’s favored candidate), and just 8 percent named Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz. The results were even better for Young on the “second choice” question: 34 percent of respondents named him, way ahead of 17 percent for Zaun, 14 percent for Schultz and Cramer, and 10 percent for Shaw.

Young’s campaign was quick to spread the news in an e-mail blast I’ve enclosed below.

I had assumed Shaw held the advantage in a convention scenario, as he has longstanding ties with GOP activists, and to my mind, would be seen as a less-offensive alternative to some other candidates in the race. But if this survey is representative, Young has a chance of filling that “least offensive” niche. Maybe conservatives working together to block Shaw are succeeding in creating a bit of a backlash against the leading establishment candidate.

E-mail blast from David Young’s campaign, June 16:

David Young has strongest support among delegates ahead of special nominating convention.

David Young is the favorite in a poll of delegates who will meet later this week to choose the Republican nominee for the Congressional seat left open by the retirement of Congressman Tom Latham.  David leads as a first choice of delegates and with twice the support of the next closest competitor in the second question.  

(see the full results below)

Delegates are looking for a nominee who can defeat Staci Appel in November and who will be a leader on important issues in Congress.  For the last seven years, David served Iowans as Senator Grassley’s Chief of Staff.  He has the knowledge and experience needed to hit the ground running to work for Iowa on Day One and that is clearly resonating with delegates.

Which candidate are you supporting?

David Young – 27%

Brad Zaun 27%

Robert Cramer – 19%

Monte Shaw – 14%

Matt Schultz 8%

Joe Grandanette – 1%

Undecided – 3%

Who is your second choice?

David Young – 34%

Brad Zaun 17%

Matt Schultz – 14%

Robert Cramer 14%

Monte Shaw – 10%

Joe Grandanette – 3%

Undecided – 8%

Poll of Third District Convention delegates

conducted 6/9/14 – 6/13/14

 Source: Caffeinated Thoughts