NASHVILLE — Lt. Gov. Ramsey’s gubernatorial campaign says the candidate “handily” won a straw poll conducted Thursday night by the Tennessee Conservative Union, which bills itself as the state’s largest and oldest statewide conservative group.

The results for GOP gubernatorial candidates were:

Lt. Gov. Ramsey— 123

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam — 80

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn. — 70.

The straw poll was conducted at the Tennessee Conservative Union’s annual Reagan Day fundraiser in Knoxville.

“This victory shows that GOP primary voters support my record of job creation, parental choice in education and ensuring the rights of the unborn as well as 2nd Amendment Rights,” Lt. Gov. Ramsey said in a statement.

Lt. Gov. Ramsey was the only candidate who made it to the event. He, Rep. Wamp and Mr. Haslam were all event co-sponsors, which enabled them to bring set numbers of supporters.

Last Friday, Lt. Gov. Ramsey and Rep. Wamp, a Chattanoogan, tied in a straw poll held by Sumner County Young Republicans with 25 votes each.