Gingrich wins Tea Party Patriots straw poll

Hot Air ^ | 12/19/2011 | Tina Korbe

[TBBT]

Newt Gingrich might have dropped to third in Iowa — and he and Romney might be neck-and-neck in the latest CNN poll, but, among thousands of Tea Party activists from across the country, Gingrich retains a clear lead.

Tea Party Patriots — the nation’s largest Tea Party organization — last night hosted a Presidential Tele Forum with Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. (The other candidates were invited to participate, but declined because of scheduling conflicts, said Jenny Beth Martin, the co-founder and national coordinator of Tea Party Patriots.) Each candidate had 10 minutes to respond to questions from local Tea Party coordinators. After the question-and-answer portion, the call organizers asked listeners to vote for one candidate as their preferred nominee.

About 23,000 Tea Party activists joined the call and a significant portion of them voted in the straw poll, according to a news release. Of those who voted, 31 percent selected Newt Gingrich as their No. 1, 28 percent selected Michele Bachmann, 20 percent selected Mitt Romney and 16 percent selected Rick Santorum. The three non-participating candidates polled very poorly: Ron Paul garnered 3 percent of the vote, Rick Perry 2 percent and Jon Huntsman 0.3 percent.

[MaxMax]

Phillip Dennis of Tea Party patriots: Straw poll not endorsement

[CalTexan]

I think an old fat gray haired man with little money is a terrible idea to put up against “Obama & The Media Machine.”

[jessduntno]

“You people Tea Partyers, why do you rank Santorum below Romney and Gingrich?”

In my mind, it’s the unshakable image I have of him of being bounced off of the lockers in the hallway wearing mom jeans and a neat checkered shirt and his hair wetted down with liquid soap from the boys room after sneaking out of gym without taking a shower.

[traderrob6]

Wake up and smell the coffee Einstein, they, like I know he can’t win.

[Osage Orange]

Hahahaha...!!

[maine-iac7]

The serious candidate who doesn’t have to say he’s the serious canidate for Commander-in-Chief!

[maine-iac7]

“About 23,000 Tea Party activists joined the call...”

jus’ saying

[Logical me]

We lose Newt, we lose America. None of the rest have the overall courage and knowledge to attack what is so corrupt in Government.

[Cato in PA]

And you think the open socialist would give him a thrashing even though he’s been unable to attract anyone but wishy-washy “moderates” who would probably consider voting for Obama?

Like it or not, Newt’s our man until someone else steps up to the plate.

My personal candidate hierarchy goes something like this:

Rick Santorum
Ricardo Perry
Newt RINO
Bloodthirsty (for everyone but Mitt) Bachmann
Wrong Paul
Wrong Party
Socialist R

Not exactly an inspiring slate of candidates. If it comes down to Socialist R versus Socialist D, it’s curtains for the republic. America will have been lost before a single vote is cast.

[LibLieSlayer]

First of all the original movement is called the TEA Party... TEA standing for TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY. If you want to try to say that 25k represents the millions that align themselves with the movement then I guess that is fine... but they are NOT the TEA Party.

LLS

[maine-iac7]

I think an old fat gray haired man with little money is a terrible idea to put up against “Obama & The Media Machine.”

And I think America has grown up since 2008 and realized young 'clean and articulate' hasn't been what it was cracked to be...(and that 'articulate' turns out to be ONLY when on teleprompter.)

America is scared as is hasn't been in many decades. They are looking for experience, a verifiable conservative record and I think 'old fat gray haired man' gives a feeling of protection, stability.

We did 'personality', ignored lack of experience last time. Didn't work out to well...

Obama has served a good purpose - been great for gun, ammo and storage food outfits - and serves as a prime example of what we DON"T NEED.

[Steelfish]

Many “Einsteins” think Gingrich would be in a worse boat? Try Mark Steyn for one.

[TheBattman]

That has to be one of the most absurd things I have read today. Newt is a RINO too - among his many other issues. Is Newt "better" than Romney... maybe so, but then again, it would be hard to find someone NOT better than Romney. But it blows my mind that people calling themselves "Conservative" would support someone as distasteful as Newt when there are more conservative candidates out there.

As far as Bachmann an Santorum not even leading in their home states - maybe their home states have already bought the MSM's assertions that the race is a two-way race between Newt and Mitt.

But the foundational truth is this - if Conservatives want a Conservative candidate, then we have to support the most Conservative candidate(s) we can, not cave to the MSM and Soros' choice.