The Southern Republican Leadership Conference straw poll results are as follows:
Initial Choice
(If the primary election for president were held today, for whom would you vote?)
SEE RELATED:
Mitt Romney: 24% - 439
Ron Paul: 24% - 438
Sarah Palin: 18% - 330
Newt Gingrich: 18% -321
Mike Huckabee: 4%
Mike Pence: 3%
Tim Pawlenty: 3%
Rick Santorum: 2%
Gary Johnson 1%
Former governor of Massachusetts, Republican, Mitt Romney won the Southern Republican Leadership Conference straw poll. 1,806 ballots were cast. Mr. Romney was a no-show at the conference this week, but his presence could be felt with the “Evangelicals for Romney” signs all over the hotel and the pink piggy banks that were handed out to attendees. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas, addressed the crowd of SRLC attendees and received a warm response from the audience. Sarah Palin also wowed SRLC attendees with quick one line zingers aimed at the Obama administration. Palin supporters handed out caribou jerky to individuals at the conference as well. Mike Huckabee was not at SRLC, but Huck Pac, Mr. Huckabee’s grassroots organizing group, set up shop in the exhibit hall.
The closeness of this poll between Mr. Romney and Mr. Paul at the top as well as Mr. Gingrich and Ms. Palin seems to show conservatives in the Republican Party are still pretty divided about 2012 presidential prospects. This is unsurprising, considering this year’s SRLC appeared more focused on the 2010 mid term elections as opposed to the 2012 presidential election.
