I have mixed feelings about Mitt Romney. I supported him during the primary in 2008. I was impressed with the way her turned around the Olympics. He’s definitely a competent guy. But, Romneycare is a big monkey on his back, and he hasn’t properly addressed it. Apparently, the voters at the SRLC don’t share my concerns. Or they’re satisfied with the states vs. federal argument, which I get.
CBS: Mitt Romney won the straw poll at the Southern Republican Leadership conference here Saturday in a victory that will be taken as a sign of the former Massachusetts governor’s strength as a 2012 presidential candidate.
That’s because the 2008 GOP presidential hopeful elected to skip the conference to continue his book tour.
Romney triumphed by a single vote over Ron Paul, who took second place 439 votes to 438. Both men won 24 percent of the vote. Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich essentially tied for third with 18 percent of the vote each
Not that any of this matters much at this point. 2012 is a long way off, we have to get conservatives elected in 2010, and that’s where our focus should be. Once we put the brakes on this socialist freight train we can start thinking about 2012. We have enough on our plate between now and November.
But just to take a moment to imagine my dream ticket for 2012 – any combination of Jim DeMint, Mike Pence and Marco Rubio. (Yes, Marco Rubio!) I know, I named three, but we don’t really know if any of the three are planning to run.
Update: Via memeorandum, here are the official results of the straw poll.
Newt Gingrich 18%
Mike Huckabee 4%
Gary Johnson 1%
Sarah Palin 18%
Ron Paul 24% (438 votes)
Tim Pawlenty 3%
Mike Pence 3%
Mitt Romney 24% (439 votes)
Rick Santorum 2%
I’m thinking the voting was done before Mike Pence’s speech. And Herman Cain wasn’t included, nor was Marco Rubio or Jim DeMint. Rather than watching the straw polls, I’d say to just keep an eye on the rising stars in the GOP. There are plenty.
In my opinion, if the Republicans want to win back the White House, their best shot is Scott Brown/Marco Rubio. Brown for his electability and Rubio for his TEA Party values. I like and support Romney and Paul. I just don’t think Romney is electable and the media will have a field day with Ron Paul.
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The only problem with Scott Brown is the libs will use the 142 days in office argument against him. You know the double standard would apply and it would sink Brown. Paul Ryan could be just as electable and the experience argument is over.
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[...] The Lonely Conservative has the results of the SRLC straw poll [...]
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Paul Ryan was my representative when I lived in Wisconsin. I really respect him. I think he would be great. Speaking of double standards, I think it would be awesome to have a minority candidate and tell the Democrats if they don’ vote for him or her, it is because they are racist.
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Well given that the GOP is all old white guys, how are they going to get a minority candidate./sarc tag/
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