Posted on 10/20/2007 1:41:59 PM PDT by freespirited
Mitt Romney won the Family Research Council Values Voters' Summit straw poll in Washington Saturday, barely beating out Mike Huckabee with just 30 more votes.
Romney garnered 1595 votes to Huckabee's 1565 in the poll of conservative activists. Ron Paul was third with 865 and Fred Thompson was fourth with 564 votes. No vote count has been announced for Rudy Giuliani.
Romney spoke at the summit Friday and called for ending the "marriage penalty" and decreasing out-of-wedlock birth.
In a veiled hit at his rival, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and his more liberal positions on gay rights and abortion, Romney said, "We won’t win the White House with only two out of three or one out of three… We’re not going to beat Hillary Clinton by acting like Hillary Clinton."
Romney reiterated his belief that "two parents are the ideal setting for raising a child." On abortion, Romney declared he would be "a pro-life president," acknowledging that he was a "convert to this cause," referencing his 2005 change from an "effectively pro-choice" position to a pro-life stance.
More than 2,000 conservative activists attended the summit and heard from the Republican presidential field over the last two days.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said 5,776 votes were cast in the straw poll by voting in person, online or by mail. Romney's campaign actively petitioned supporters to vote online whether or not they had attended the conference.
The straw poll is non-binding, unscientific, and does not necessarily reflect the social conservative movement as a whole.
The following three questions were on the straw poll ballot:
1. Which of the following candidates for president would you be most likely to vote for?
RESULTS: Romney-1595 Huckabee-1565 Paul-865 Thompson-564
2. Who of the following candidates would be least acceptable to you as President of the United States? (results not yet announced)
3. Please indicate which issue is the most important in determining your opinion of the candidate that you will most likely vote for – choose one: RESULTS: -abortion -defending marriage -tax cuts -permanent tax relief
No, the story is that among actual conference votes, a so-called second-tier candidate absolutely trounced all three guys who are ahead in the polls — including my candidate and your candidate. Romney (and Paul) undoubtedly achieved some damage control with online votes, but it’s still a rout for everyone but Huck.
"Ha! Ron Paul's a kook who couldn't get elected dog catcher! He's low in the polls, no chance of winning!"
"George Soros is paying the Paulites to spam these polls, plus Code Pink is recruiting new members too! These straw polls don't mean nothing anyway."
No wailing, I'm just laughing at the gross hypocrisy here of FReepers.
Mitt Romney isn't a social conservative, so it's moot anyway.
What makes you think these people are all conservative? First, these people are obviously pretentious. They are the only voters with values? Sure. Second, many of these people are theocrats not conservatives. Although some of the theocrat's positions are shared with conservatives like pro-life and pro-marriage, many are not. Many theocrats are basically socialist as long as the government is spending the money on things that support their religious values. Many theocrats' religious views cause them to support things like open borders and citizenship for illegal aliens. Many theocrats are nanny staters as long as the state is forcing people to abide by their "values".
This particular orginization obviously supports Huckabee. Good for Mike. However, supporting a big government, big spending, open borders Republican does not make them conservative.
Hee.
Tell me again why this group is so important?
I will just as soon as you show me proof that the on-line voters were anything other than made up paid voters. Are you have proof that they were members of any group.
I agree with everything you said 90% (minus your Thompson observations). I dont think its strategy by Thompson to have done poorly in this event, he just has not performed well. He does not have the luxury of time to be saving his cash or efforts. This primary season is going to be all but over in 3 months. It takes months to build up the kind of ground game and local organization you need to do well in these primaries. You cannot possibly expect to jump in at the last second and make it happen.
BTW, i'm playing the fantasy '08 markets at real clear politics and just made a big bet on Huckabee doing well in Iowa.
I totally discount the online voting fomr this event. That Ron Paul came in third is all you need to know.
But in the live onsite voting Huckabee won.
I hear a clinking sound, you know like thirty pieces of silver.
He should have worn a Reagan mask or played the LAW & ORDER music.
HUGE LOSS for Willard.
LOL
Thirty votes?
I am glad after fake websites, fake cop badges and of course his faking being pro life to garner votes from the baby killers, he has decided to be upfront as you say...
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/08/09/romneys_honesty_problem/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091002227.html
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/6144-romney-s-fake-cop-discussed
Politicians always listen for the beat of the constituency they seek to represent, and waltz to it as best they can. They routinely tap dance around tough issues. They cha-cha-cha, reversing course when necessary. But they don't all do what Romney did on abortion rights. He engaged in a full-body tango with Massachusetts voters, doing everything he could to convince them he was pro-choice. He used his mother and another dead relative as props in a cold political calculation. But, this "pro-life Mormon," to quote Murphy, was "faking it" big time.
That's more than a mistake. That's dishonest.
Romney could very well win the GOP nomination. If he does, establishing credentials as a truth-teller will be harder than establishing credentials as an abortion-rights opponent.
Yes, I know, with that massive voter turn out he's on fire, some what like a wet bottle rocket.
Couldn’t agree more. Additionally Huckabee is another nice guy who can’t win in the general. Michael Medved, has been pushing Huckabee, in order to split the conservative vote to insure a Guiliani victory.
I disagree that Thompson is doing poorly overall, but I also don't think this particular third- or fourth-place finish (depending on how you count) was strategy either. What remains to be seen is how well the attendees of this event mirror evangelical voters, and overall primary voters. At this point, the information is all over the place.
I will say that if Huck takes root and actually wins one of the early primaries, that would seem to be very good news for the Giuliani camp.
I think you should blow a wad against Thompson. Should play big.
If you’re right that is.
I should have said to “further” split the conservative vote.
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