Posted on 09/26/2015 3:16:50 PM PDT by VinL
The results are in at the Values Voter Summit -- and, for once, Donald Trump fails to top a conservative poll.
The straw poll at the summit, a conservative gathering hosted by the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., showed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz winning over voters, leading the pack for the third year in a row.
Cruz, with 35 percent of support, was followed by neurosurgeon-turned-politician Ben Carson, with 18 percent of the vote. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee came in third, drawing 14 percent of supporters, followed by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio at 13 percent.
Play Video Why so thin-skinned, Donald Trump?
Registering at fifth place on the survey results: Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner in many state and national polls.
The religious conservatives in attendance simply weren't buying what Trump had to offer. Despite bringing his Bible on stage when addressing the audience, Trump registered at only 5 percent. Trump was even booed at the summit when he slammed Rubio over his immigration policies and called him a "clown."
Below Trump, Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Hewlett-Packard chief Carly Fiorina came in with 4 percent and 3 percent of the vote, respectively.
Trump's low support among the conservative evangelical base will come as no surprise for those following the billionaire's presidential campaign. Trump has been known to flout convention when it comes to wooing the religious right, even admitting once that he was "not sure" that he had ever asked God for forgiveness.
"If I do something wrong, I think I just try and make it right, I don't bring God into that picture," Trump said in July at the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa.
Still, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, who announced the summit's results, said that Trump's fifth place showing was still "pretty good."
Of the issues most important to attendees, the top three included protecting religious liberty, advocating against abortion rights and protecting "natural marriage."
Carson, with 25 percent of the vote, was the first choice for the vice-presidential slot.
At least 2,700 registered participants attended the summit.
Religious leaders. hmmph
I think Walker was Cruz’s biggest threat, and now, I think you’re right, it’s Carson. Carson seems to have great appeal in Iowa, but I’m thinking (hoping) that Cruz’s experience will win the day.
Bob Vander Plaats, head of The Family Leader, a Christian group in Iowa, said he believes Mr. Cruz has the best infrastructure of support in the Hawkeye State and said that some of the other candidates eyeing the conservative mantle are struggling to keep pace.
I imagine it isn’t ego, but at this point, Cruz isn’t even a threat for the top position.
We also have a problem with delusional people.
He re-evaluated that. Luntz was on Fox last night, saying just the opposite and talking about Cruz being a rock star.
I am glad that Cruz, my first choice won!
But just speaking of straw polls in general (outside of this one) other straw polls, people are bussed in and a larger portion do not even take part in the poll.
We know that the Paul family have managed to rig them over the years. Some have made it a priority to win a straw poll, others have not made the effort
I am speaking of OTHER straw polls, not this one.
Yes. Especially if you’re a democrat.
“He re-evaluated that. Luntz was on Fox last night, saying just the opposite and talking about Cruz being a rock star.”
If Cruz is a rock star, what does that make Trump? Luntz, of course, is trying to destroy Trump.
Great. I only said Super Tuesday, because that was your original post. OK, we’ll bookmark your predictions.
Not until he polls double digits. Cruz has very consistently been in single digits throughout his entire presidential campaign. With the exceptions of a few outlier polls, which every candidate experiences, Cruz is currently a single-digit candidate in Iowa, New Hampshire and nationally.
His supporters are coming off more delusional than Palin's circa 2011 (they're probably a lot of the same people, so that is probably not entirely surprising).
A liberal. Nothing more.
Look, I told you what I saw on Fox...you can like it or not. But I'm having a pretty good laugh at you crowing one minute over Luntz's remarks, and dismissing them the next.
LOL!
We all have to remember, polls are like noses, everyone has one. It is reported that Trump is well out in front of the other wannabes but exactly how much will ONLY BE IMPORTANT on two days, when he wins the primary and when he wins the BIG ONE.
I also like Cruz at this point in the race but there are still a lot of bumpy roads to the finish line.
Too early for any poll to predict anything. A great many things can happen between now and February 2016. Something wild will happen—That you can bank on.
Trump proved his failings when he didn’t support Kim Davis. Religious Freedom does not end when one leaves one house for many!
This is a good reason for Trump to pick Cruz as his VP. He needs stronger support among this cross section. Cruz is more closely aligned with Trump than any other candidate.
Oh horse poop. Cruz showed up there and Huckleberry handed him his walking papers.
Didn’t help him at all.
If Cruz is still in the mix come next spring when my state holds its primary he will get my vote. But usually the race is over by the time I get to vote in the primary. As it goes now...I will back Trump if Cruz is out of the picture
We need a constitutional amendment to make all 50 state primaries on the same day.
People want to bring up Santorum or Perry---but no one previously EVER led in all the state polls or even in most of them. Previously a guy could have a superhuman effort in one state (IA), then flop in SC or NH. But Trump leads everywhere, and in some places (GA, OK, AL) by massive margins (20 points or more).
Cruz is still in the game with Evangelicals as this poll shows.
A Republican can’t win if millions of Evangelicals stay home
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