PHOTO: High-Ranking Republicans Visit Lemont for Illinois Straw Poll

Several of Illinois' most influential Republicans gathered at the on Saturday to show support for the state's .

Guests included U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, Congresswoman Judy Biggert, State Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, Asst. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman and Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady.

Also in attendance were Cook County GOP Chairman Sig Vaznelis, Lemont Township Supervisor Steve Rosendahl and Lemont Trustee Paul Chialdikas.

"It's extremely exciting that Lemont has the opportunity to host something like this. It's not often that we have this many elected officials in Lemont at one time," Vaznelis told Patch last week.

U.S. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas with 52 perscent of the vote. Georgia businessman Herman Cain was second (18 percent), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney third (14 percent), and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich fourth (9 percent).

The straw poll, which began Oct. 29, garnered more than 3,600 votes between online and in-person voting, according to the Illinois Republican Party.