LANCASTER — What was billed by the Democratic State Committee as a presidential straw poll Friday night turned out instead to be a fundraising gimmick in which party faithful could buy as many votes as they could afford for the candidate of their choice.

"In hindsight, we shouldn't have used the word 'straw'," said Abe Amoros, the state committee spokesman, who learned about the nature of the "poll" from a reporter only after the fundraiser had begun.

In advance of the event, the state committee had said members and their guests would be entitled to one vote each if they bought tickets to a dance party at prices ranging from $20 to $35 apiece. In fact, Amoros later confirmed, the revelers were credited with one "vote" for every dollar they spent on their tickets. In addition, they could buy additional votes that were to be counted as "absentee" ballots.

By its very nature, such mock voting is meaningless as even an informal gauge of how Pennsylvania Democrats are lining up in the presidential nominating race — a topic of great interest to political observers.

"It's a fundraiser, you know," said Nick Jackal, the state committee staffer who explained the process. Proceeds from the dance party were being shared by two organizations geared to younger Democrats.

The state's April 22 primary will come long after most other states have held their primaries and caucuses — and after most political observers expect both parties to have picked their presumptive nominees.

The main business before the state committee was to come Saturday with the consideration of candidate endorsements for the Pennsylvania row offices — attorney general, treasurer and auditor general.

The only contested nomination is for state treasurer. Three candidates have come forth so far: Bucks County lawyer John Cordisco, a former state legislator; Montgomery County businessman Rob McCord; and Dennis Morrison-Wesley of Harrisburg, who said he is a licensed investment adviser but is currently working as a cable television salesman.

The three men took part in a panel discussion before about 100 people before Friday night's fundraiser.