Free Republic

Despite his repeated assertions that he’s not going to run for president in 2012, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is “strongly considering” getting in the race, according to a report Tuesday. The Weekly Standard’s Stephen F. Hayes reported that Ryan, a Republican, is vacationing in Colorado this week, where he is discussing with his family the possibility of a run. “He’s coming around,” a source told Hayes about Ryan’s thinking. Ryan, a leader on budget issues, is often mentioned in the same sentence as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as a “dream” candidate that GOP donors and activists would like to...

ST. PETERSBURG -- Mitt Romney bought himself a victory in the straw poll for Republicans at a rain-shortened barbecue in Vinoy Park. Romney got 893 votes, besting second-place Ron Paul's 534 -- despite Paul's shuttling in supporters on a rented trolley and shuttle. The campaign had a plane sporting pro-Paul slogans and a boat touting him, too. In fact, Paul supporters dominated the crowd, which reached an estimated 1,000 people. Tickets for votes cost $20 each. So how did Romney do it? "I voted 20 times," Derek Gyongzois, 38, of St. Petersburg exclaimed after casting ballots. He said he works...