A deeper analysis of the Republican straw vote...

[kentuck]

The Southern Republican Leadership Conference is traditionally one of the most important events for the Republican Party. Their poll is considered very significant for the next presidential election.

In yesterday's poll, there was no clear-cut front runner, out of 1806 ballots cast. Mitt Romney, the establishment Republican, garnered 439 of those votes. Ron Paul, the Libertarian, received one less vote than Romney, with 438 votes.

Sarah Palin, the Tea-bagger favorite, came in third with 330 votes. That was less than 20% of the entire votes cast. Obviously, the Republican Party is not as ready as the conservative media, to hand the nomination to the former half-term Governor of Alaska.

Newt Gingrich, the "ideas" candidate, came in with 321 votes, which shows there are still 15-20% of Republicans who would like to return to the good ol' days before George W Bush. He was the only true "conservative" in the top four. Mike Huckabee, Tim Pawlenty, Mike Pence, Rick Santorum and Gary Johnson split up the remaining 285 votes.

What does the polls indicate? It shows us that the Republican Party is deeply divided. There is no overwhelming support for Sarah Palin. The one candidate with a healthcare plan, very similar to Obama's, is the frontrunner. Does that mean they cannot make healthcare reform the big issue in the Presidential election? It is going to be an interesting show watching them claw each other's eyeballs out...

[OKNancy]

1. Nice post. Clear, short, and precise

I appreciate that on a lazy Sunday.... Well, most any day actually.

[Warpy]

2. Gary Johnson? Former NM governor?

Jesus, the party could do a whole lot worse.

He was a competent governor who came out during his term for an end to the drug war, especially against grass.

He's an old line Goldwater conservative. If the people who staple teabags to themselves and think they're gonna git raptured leave to form their own party, he's the kind of old line conservative that will attract the GOP base back.

He's not nuts, in other words. He's just wrong but didn't manage to do much damage.

[elleng]

3. Interesting. TOTALLY outside of my 'scope.

Have to think about the effect.

[alittlelark]

8. If they nominated Johnson they would seem sane.

Fortunately they are not sane, he would be a great candidate.

He also does Ironman events.

He is a R that many sane ppl would vote for.

[Warpy]

10. He must've gotten a haircut

because he turned into a total hippie when he went out of office here 8 years ago.

[elleng]

4. Interesting, yes. Let THEM live in interesting times!

I guess its fair to call newt the ideas candidate, but true conservative? Have to think about that.

[Mz Pip]

5. Mitwit brought gifts

for attendees and Paul bought tickets for people. The whole thing was a joke. 1800 ballots is indicative of nothing. A rock concert in a small town gets more attendees.

[saltpoint]

6. They do seem divided. The division might go from "fairly divided"

right now to "savagely split" later. And all this within the GOP ranks.

Some outlets reported that Mitch Daniels and Haley Barbour asked that their names not be on the ballot in New Orleans. I'm not sure why Jindal's was not included, not that I much care.

Romney can't take much comfort in barely defeating Ron Paul. Republican county chair folks can't take much comfort that Ron Paul is so well-represented. It's still early for Pence, and Pence is in it for keeps. He's all but snarling like a chained animal.

Not a very impressive showing by that anti-federalist son of the South, Newt Gingrich. It certainly would be nice to have his massive ego out of the public spotlight. Maybe he will drop out of the race and become a FOX News eminence instead.

It is a field where the lower-drawing potential candidates could rise. IMO there has not been as hyper-ambitious a candidate in U.S. politics than Mike Pence for many many moons. It would be great to be a reporter in Indiana these next few years if both he and MItch Daniels want to be president.

I regularly dismiss Rick Santorum but in a field where no one has a clear shot, and where the landscape of support is not even close to being decided, someone as virulently awful as Santorum could emerge as a serious contender. If he can tap donor sources who want a scorched-earth agenda, he could be the one who takes Sarah Palin out of contention for the Pukes' nom.

[AwakeAtLast]

7. Notice that Mitch Daniels is totally missing

and he is totally running. He's cutting education to the bone so that he can claim Indiana has a surplus in his campaign, just like his ole pal Dubya.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. I still think that if Sarah runs she will win

She is an attack dog with lipstick. Mitt can't hit back at her anywhere nearly as hard as she can hit him. He was once pro-choice, he passed health care reform as in MA., his religious sect preaches "social justice".

I don't think he can withstand the assault.