The Straw Poll...The Morning After
October 21, 2007
OK, now that the dust has settled on the Value Voters conference let me offer a couple of clarifications. I must admit the Straw Poll results were really a tad bit confusing. It doesn't change the reality that Huckabee comes out of this with the biggest bounce or that Romney had a good week (straw poll and Evangelical endorsements) but let's look a little closer here.
That 488 to 99 Huckabee onsite polling win may be a bit misleading. Many Romney supporters who attended the conference have contacted me saying they were voting online in their hotel rooms to avoid the long lines. Maybe Huckabee supporters did the same thing. We don't really know the exact number breakdown. It still doesn't change the fact that Huckabee did very well here and after the speech he gave it's no wonder. After all, a Baptist preacher in front of this crowd is a winner. Lets be clear; Huckabee's speech Saturday may rank as one of his best speeches to date.
Look, whatever people want to say about Romney's folks mobilizing the online vote, hey all is fair in love and...politics. They played by the rules. To me it shows a consistent character trait of this campaign from the beginning. They are very organized and engaged.
Read more from The Politico .
Here's some of the article below where you can see what Family Research Council President Tony Perkins thought of the straw poll.
FRC President Tony Perkins told reporters after the results were announced: “I think Governor Huckabee gets the biggest bounce of this.… I know a lot of people are critical of Governor Romney … but Governor Huckabee worked very aggressively online to get votes as well.”
Perkins said: “There’s going to be some natural disparity because when people hear someone, they’re going to be motivated. There’s no question in my mind, Governor Huckabee gave the best speech at this event. I mean, that was a clear motivational factor.”
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani fared poorly in both polls. But Perkins said Giuliani “was a winner by coming” to give a well-received Saturday morning speech in which he said the social conservatives “have absolutely nothing to fear from me.”
Perkins said Giuliani may have even taken some of the air out of a push among some social conservatives to support a third-party candidate if Giuliani becomes the nominee. Perkins still said he would not vote for Giuliani, because of his pro-choice stand on abortion.
More on Giuliani and the third party talk later today. Also, I'll be writing about Fred Thompson's vote tally at the straw poll. Hmmm. I'm about to get on a plane to Orlando Sunday morning to cover the GOP debate.
Comments?
THE BRODY FILE Main Page >>
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
