Dear Readers: Dawn Wildman, one of the co-founders of our local Tea Party group and a coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots (TPP), called in with the Straw Poll results for the American Policy Summit presidential picks. Happily, they seem to make more sense than those at CPAC. Even better — my personal pick, Sarah Palin, does very well in the large field of potential candidates.
TPP broke the results into 2 groups — online (where Ron Paul has a very strong presence of engaged supporters) and live (reflecting the opinion of attendees). When reviewing the results, it is helpful to know three things:
1) Paul, Tim Pawlenty and Herrman Cain spoke at the APS convention.
2) Dawn and several other participant in Phoenix said Cain did an outstanding job.
3) Both Dawn and I agreed Pawlenty had improved considerably, in terms of giving speeches (even to a highly receptive audience).
With this in mind, here are the results:
ONLINE:
Herman Cain 12%
Ro Paul 12%
Sarah Palin 9%
Mike Huckabee 6%
Tim Pawlenty 5%
Newt Gingrich 5%
LIVE:
Herman Cain 22%
Tim Pawlenty 16%
Ron Paul 15%
Sarah Palin 10%
Mitt Romney 6%
Translation: Paul was not the runaway winner, even online. And the top-performer of those who didn’t come was my personal pick, Palin. I hope this is instructive. Those who wish someone else to prevail in the primary, please recognize that you disrespect Palin at great peril to your choice. Palin supporters are a great engine of fundraising, drive, and creativity. You will need them behind the candidate (should it NOT be Sarah) in the general election if Obama is to be defeated. Additionally, most conservatives seem ready to shake things up, and establishment-blessed candidates need not apply.
I like Palin. but she draws a lot of fire… Which is good for Paul and Cain…
Don’t know much about Pawlenty, but I would consider him before Huckabee, Gingrich, Romney or Trump!
On the bright side of these polls, it’s not the media selecting the Republican they want in 2012. Or having one candidate’s rabid followers doing a Chicago and stuffing ballots.
Interesting Results! How did your t-shirt work out?
Dang, my man Mitch Daniels wasn’t represented. Was he not on the ballot? Agree with Johannes that Huckabee, Gingrich, Romney and Trump are no good.
Goddess, thanks for covering the summit.
Paul and Cain finished 1-2 in the AZ Tea Party Patriots straw poll (see link below). One may argue magnitudes – who is first, second, etc. – at any event, but the energy and enthusiasm are unmistakeable for Messrs. Paul and Cain. Conspicuous by its’ absence is any such enthusiasm for Romney, Gingrich, Gulianni or any of the other usual suspects. Palin is an enigma in terms of her plans, and Huckabee has a strong base constituency that will turn out for him. Beyond those four, I cannot see anyone catching fire.
Of course, one news cycle could change all that, and Gov. Christie would have been formidable if he had chosen to run.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20037196-503544.html