Posted on 04/07/2011 4:05:02 AM PDT by Scanian
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appears to be the early front-runner in the largely unformed race for the Republican nomination for president, but real estate magnate Donald Trump may be a surprise contender, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.
Among Republican primary voters, Mr. Romney captured the support of 21% in a broad, nine-candidate field. Mr. Trump was tied for second with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, with 17%. House Speaker Newt Gingrich got 11%, just ahead of former Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s 10%. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, considered a strong contender by political handicappers, remains largely unknown, with just 6% support. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota had 5%, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum 3%, and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour with just 1%.
Mr. Trump “may be a punch line but when he talks about the way to solve our problems, he makes a lot of sense to the average guy out there,” said Todd Mauney, a conservative Republican in Weatherford, Texas. “I don’t know if people can get over him being the butt of every joke but for me, he can be serious when it’s time to make real decisions.“
In a narrower field of five candidates, excluding Mr. Trump but including Messrs. Gingrich, Pawlenty and Barbour and Ms. Bachmann, Mr. Romney comes out with a comfortable 20-point lead, 40% to Mr. Gingrich’s second-place 20%. Mr. Pawlenty had 12% and Ms. Bachmann 11%. Mr. Barbour, a former Republican National Committee chief and chairman of the Republican Governors Association, has a powerful fund-raising network and a vast Rolodex of contacts, but he has yet to catch on with primary voers. He garnered 3% of the support of those polled.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
People call Mitt a flip-flopper, but no one has ‘revised’ their positions, particularly on social issues, than Trump has.
Mitt is a flip-flopper.
So you’re a Mitten then?
That’s so cute.
I’m loving Trump...he isn’t PC!
I'm surprised that you have received no comments yet to that statement of truth.
“As for the birth certificate issue, it’s entertaining, amusing, and totally beside the point of what is ailing America—which is debt.”
Birth certificate is the tip of the iceberg regarding this fraud in the White House who is doing everything he can to destroy our country through the debt and every other means possible. These are not separate issues at all. obama’s allegiances lie elsewhere.
I’m glad Trump is trumpeting. At least someone is exposing the Emperor and inserting the subject of this fraud into the presidential race. I doubt he is a serious candidate, but I thank him for having the guts to put this out there. I’m sick of obama’s background being off limits by our courteous Republican politicians.
I think he’s very entertaining. I just watched his Today show interview. It was very entertaining, and he certainly says things no one else will say. My talking Donald Trump doll liked it too. I just don’t believe he’s going to run, and I don’t trust him.
Bush 1 DID NOT DESERVE to be re-elected. Having a Republican who gives the democraps everythign they want is worse than having a democrap.
Clinton was a democrap.. nuff said.
Perot was the only choice out of the 3.
He may have helped elect Clinton, but with no mandate Clinton (THANK GOD~!) gave us a GOP controlled congress for the first time in 40 years.
And Clinton and the GOP Congress gave us a balanaced budget.
I want him to run to stir things up. Nobody is better at doing that! LOL!
“His business acumen?
What?”
With me it’s his support of Hillary and Kerry.
Two reasons to dump Trump:
1) his support of socialism
2) the fact that rino lovers and trolls on this website and elsewhere are all of the sudden trying to join the ruling class in choosing Trump as our nominee.
I don’t think Daniel’s can make it.
Most likely you’ll see Romney matched to someone with unquestioned conservative principles. There doesn’t seem to be anyone with the bona fides to run - governor and business experience.
The challenge will be among conservatives to decide if they’d rather have Romney or more Obama.
The real fight is getting the Senate and keeping the House. We need a solid majority in the Senate, though, to move our agenda forward.
I've seen this movie before. Anyway, I agree Daniels can't make it. Not sure about Romney either, though. It's going to be like last time I think. No frontrunner.
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