Posted on 06/03/2006 12:36:43 PM PDT by Valin
State GOP Pick Gingrich In Presidential Straw Poll (AP) Minneapolis Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who engineered the Republican takeover of Congress a dozen years ago, got a boost Friday from Minnesota conservatives who want him to run for president in 2008.
Gingrich was the top vote-getter in a straw poll of GOP activists at the state party convention. But the vote is at best a limited reflection of Republican sentiment in the state -- the ranks of the 1,275 delegates had thinned down considerably by the time the poll was taken, and 540 valid votes were cast.
That was about 10 hours into the second day of the convention, hours after the day's marquee event -- the endorsement of Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Several conservatives pushed for Gingrich, circulating a letter saying he could block moderates such as Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani from getting the party's support.
"If either were elected president, the principles and policies we support would fade into the woodwork," said the letter, signed by former gubernatorial candidate Brian Sullivan; former state party chairman Chris Georgacas; David Strom, president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota and others.
The letter added: "No one can articulate a Republican vision for America better than New Gingrich."
Gingrich has left open the possibility of running for president.
He got 210 votes in the straw poll, or almost 39 percent -- more than twice as many as Sen. George Allen of Virginia, who came in second. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was third, followed by McCain, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Newt / Condi. I'd support that ticket.
Floridians for Gingrich. He has the experience and the has the ideas. August 10-11 Portofino Hotel. Orlando.
If Newt could only control his personal life ....
Got a link? I am close and would love to go.
Has he cheated on this wife yet?
Let he who is without sin...ect etc.
For all their wailing about Bush's lack of conservative values, the Socons would slit their wrists before voting for a real conservative, Newt Gingrich. That's what letting the perfect chase out the good does to people.
There have been many stories written on his relationship with his wife and their divorce . Remember, many of them are political hit pieces designed to highlight or embellish the negative aspects of what he has done.
I'm not defending his actions, but they should be taken in context as a whole. Many good and decent people have made mistakes or have not thought though the consequences of their actions.
I see Newt as probably the only "conservative" out their who has the brilliance, ability, backbone and leadership skills to lead this country back to it's conservative roots.
The GOP is currently full of RINO's and wanna be RINO's who will sell us out heartbeat.
Newt isn't prefect, but he's darn site better than just about anyone the "stupid party" is going to throw into the ring and support. Rant off.
Who would lose in a bigger landslide? Newt or Alan Keyes?
Social conservatives???
"There have been many stories written on his relationship with his wife and their divorce ."
Change that to "wives" and "divorces" and you've got it right. :)
Better he do tolerable well as president than to hope for someone who would do perfectly.
So true.
I much prefer to have RINO's or dems running things. < /sar >
When you wake up in Nov. 2008 and President-elect Hillary Clinton is on your newspapers front page, just remember what a SOB Newt is and why you voted for the RINO the GOP put up.
Oh great.
First Frist wins a straw poll and now Gingrich.
If those are the best the GOP can find, the GOP should call the moving vans now, because the Dems will take with WH in 08.
I put that in the cons column, not the pros column. I probably wouldn't support Newt because A) he's spent too much of his life either in gubmint or as a college professor--two of the more dubious professions, and B) he seems greatly enamored of his own voice and ideas. He's a legend in his own mind. Hubris plus a tendency to work on the public dime make me very wary of Newt. Plus, in the end he couldn't take the heat.
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