THE GOP STRAW POLL

Michelle Malkin .com ^ | March 11,2006 | Michelle Malkin ·

[AmericanMade1776]

I must confess, none of these guys make me very excited:

More than 20 months before any real votes are cast, Republican Senate leader Bill Frist of Tennessee won a straw poll on Saturday of party activists choosing their early favorite in the 2008 White House race. Frist, who packed the home-state crowd with supporters wearing blue "Frist is my leader" buttons, won nearly 37 percent of the 1,427 votes cast by delegates to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference.

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was second with 13 percent, while Sen. George Allen of Virginia finished tied for third with President George W. Bush, whose name was added to the ballot by 10 percent of the delegates at the urging of Arizona Sen. John McCain.

The poll results, while meaning little in the long run, could give the top two finishers, Frist and Romney, a boost in recognition heading into the 2008 campaign.

The win for Frist followed a tough year in which he became the target of a federal probe of his stock sales and was criticized for his Senate leadership.

Frist and Romney were among six possible presidential candidates who spoke to the gathering of nearly 2,000 activists from 26 states in what served as an unofficial kickoff to the 2008 race. All registered delegates were eligible to vote in the poll, sponsored by political tip sheet The Hotline.

[AmericanMade1776]

One---

Senate Majority Leader Bill First of Tennessee, left, makes his way into the afternoon session of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in the Peabody Hotel, Saturday, March 11, 2006, in Memphis, Tenn., is his wife, Karyn Frist. (AP Photo/Greg Campbell)

[AmericanMade1776]

Two-----

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right, joins Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., on stage at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference during its opening session in Memphis, Tenn., Friday, March 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Greg Campbell)

[KyleM]

Say no to the status quo and yes to Mike Pence 2008!

[AmericanMade1776]

Three----

Sen. George Allen, R-Va., signs autographs after his speech to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, March 11, 2006. His wife, Susan Allen is at center. (AP Photo/Greg Campbell)

[jneesy]

i'm hoping for Allen personally

[bnelson44]

Were gonna loooooooooooossseeeeeeeee!

[digger48]

When I read that Frist, Romney, and McCain are anywhere near the top of the list of hopefuls, I get a knot in my stomach that resembles that morning I woke to see W standing there with Harriet Myers.

Just feel like crawling back into bed and pulling the covers over my head. Wake me when we impeach Clinton Part II.

[AmericanMade1776]

Write-In ..Third...( my personal Favorite)

U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, escorted by Rev. Luis Leon, depart St. John's Church after attending services in Washington, D.C., March 12, 2006. Tehran will not use its abundant oil exports as a political tool, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Sunday, cooling fears Iran could rein in exports in a dispute over its atomic work. REUTERS/Mannie Garcia

[stopem]

Ahhh....... little OVER reaction ;)

[bnelson44]

:)

[marvlus]

Oh Man! Another Dole-like race on the horizon!

[AmericanMade1776]

Fourth------

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R- Ariz., speaks at the evening session of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday, March 10, 2006. (AP Photo/Greg Campbell)

[AmericanMade1776]

Fifth-----

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee delivers an address before the delegates of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference during the morning session on Saturday, March 11, 2006 in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Greg Campbell)

[AmericanMade1776]

Sixth-----

George Pataki

Architect David Childs, left, explains the model of the redesigned Freedom Tower to New York Gov. George Pataki, second from left, and World Trade Center leaseholder Larry Silverstein, right, during a news conference in New York, in this file photo taken June 29, 2005. Silverstein is facing a deadline ordered by Pataki that could dramatically reduce his rights to rebuild the site. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

[ConsentofGoverned]

lets face it , If you are a conservative, or even a patriotic American..these leaders ignore US and the real threats of Illegals, open borders, so called "free trade"
and the loss of American jobs..Who will step forward to take up the real concerns of those of us who see Our countries economy and sovereignty slipping away

[Flora McDonald]

Hmph! Just wait til the grassroots get their 2 cents in.

[Squat]

Tancredo!

[SUSSA]

Tancreto in 08

[AmericanMade1776]

Seventh ------Condi Rice (write in)

In this photo released by Santiago's U.S. embassy, Chile's new President Michelle Bachelet meets with U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a bilateral meeting at Cerro Castillo Presidential residence in Vina del Mar, Chile, Saturday, March 11, 2006, prior Chile's new President Michelle Bachelet inauguration ceremony at Chile's congress in Valparaiso. Bachelet was inaugurated as Chile's first female president. (AP Photo/U.S Embassy, Jorge Sanchez, HO)

[deport]

Oh Man! Another Dole-like race on the horizon!

---

Hopefully not as there won't be an incumbent thus both wannabes will have a more even playing field imo. Now that doesn't mean the selected candidates will be anymore exciting than Dole.

The one thing I think that will resemble the democrat chase in 04 is the parade of wannabes on both sides leading up to the first few primaries.... Both parties will have a stage full at each event.