Posted on 02/18/2010 8:51:39 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The first skirmish in the war over the GOP WH nomination takes place this weekend among thousands of conservative activists, and veterans of previous straw polls see a tight battle between ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney and ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin developing at this week's Conservative Political Action Conference.
In an informal survey of GOP party leaders, strategists, activists and pundits representing backers of virtually every potential candidate in the field, a narrow plurality say Palin will win this weekend's straw poll. 22 of 48 GOPers surveyed chose Palin, while 20 chose Romney.
Ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich and MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) attracted 2 votes each, while ex-Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) earned a single vote. 1 voter was torn between Romney and Palin.
"CPAC attracts a young, philosophical-driven audience who love Palin's pure, unfiltered delivery of conservatism," said one Palin voter. Added another: "Newt may be smarter than everyone else, Romney may out-organize everyone else and [Rep. Ron] Paul may out-Libertarian everyone else, but Palin has that connection to the grassroots that cannot be replicated."
Romney, who has won the last 3 CPAC straw polls, has a crucial leg up on other contenders, according to many who think he will win a fourth. His team's ability to organize around the event in previous years is likely to give him some residual good will among attendees.
"Everyone knows how good his organization was in the lead-up to the 08 primaries, but not everyone realizes how sneaky-good that organization remains," said one respondent. Added another: "Mitt bears the high expectations of having won CPAC three years in a row. While this establishes him as the clear favorite of mainstream conservatives, it also keeps the pressure on for him to win every time he shows up."(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com ...
Mitt won’t make it out of Iowa.
Yawn. Same old candidates.
DeMint/Pence 2012
Does Demint actually want it? I am actually sick of the reluctant hero bit and that goes for Sarah Palin also. I backed Fred but he turned out not the have the brass. If Sarah wants it she better act like it or I am going to think about backing someone else. The only thing I know for sure is that I will not back Romney or Huck even if they win the primary.
Nada chance. Romney is the DBM’s choice, NOT conservatives’. We’ll make our own selections from now on, NOT the DBM, and NOT the GOP!
Romney couldn’t buy the election with all of his millions and the weakest GOP candidate ever fields.
He’s not going to win this time either.
Even if every one else running died all of a sudden and he became the candidate, he would lose against any Candidate the Dems put up.
He’s Dead Jim!
Anyone remember the 2007 videos that appeared to show Romney supporters voting multiple times in these straw polls? IMO Romney’s strategy has always been to project the appearance of popularity/inevitability, using those much-vaunted “organizational skills” (aka, $$$) to stack the deck when possible.
For all the good it did him. He still can't get anyone to vote for him in real life.
There are things I like about Romney, but not in 2012...no way, no how. Even if I thought he could win the election, he would make me nervous in office. He’d actually probably handle some of the big picture economic issues well, but outside of that it is a total crap shoot. We need a real proven conservative in 2012, win or lose.
Ballot order
Haley Barbour
Mitch Daniels
Newt Gingrich
Mike Huckabee
Sarah Palin
Ron Paul
Tim Pawlenty
Mike Pence
Mitt Romney
Rick Santorum
John Thune
Other (write in)
Undecided
Ya mean you don’t think he’ll take NH?
Waiting to see who actually files to run. There's nothing certain about it at this point. Still a year off until the declarations start.
How many people is he bussing in to vote for him.
Straw poll, straw man poll
Isn't taken seriously
I hope Romney “wins” again, it will seal his fate like the last few years.
Mitt couldn’t get elected dog catcher.......he is boring........
Take it from a Massachusetts resident: Mitt Romney is a Socialist in RINO cloth. He DESTROYED first-class health care in Massachusetts with his buddy Ted Kennedy’s Health Insurance Tax, a full-on socialist program that has ruined the quality and cost of health care in this state. He also allowed GAY MARRIAGE and did not defer TO THE PEOPLE of Massachusetts because we would have struck that crap down.
Take it from a Massachusetts resident: Mitt Romney is a Socialist in RINO cloth. He DESTROYED first-class health care in Massachusetts with his buddy Ted Kennedy’s Health Insurance Tax, a full-on socialist program that has ruined the quality and cost of health care in this state. He also allowed GAY MARRIAGE and did not defer TO THE PEOPLE of Massachusetts because we would have struck that crap down.
Romney vs who? I think the ‘rats will desert the sinking ship of Zero and swarm in droves to Hillary Klinton.Even if he managed to win, what wwould we have but another RINO elitist with very little interest in the military or workable ideas on how to deal with the enemy , and that includes CLOSING THE BORDERS.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.