bobbyw24
04-11-2010, 10:59 AM
New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney defeated Texas Rep. Ron Paul by a single vote in the Southern Republican Leadership Conference's 2012 straw poll on Saturday.
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/POLITICS/04/10/republican.conference/story.ron.paul.gi.jpg
Romney did not appear at the New Orleans conference, but received 439 votes -- or 24 percent -- of the 1,806 ballots cast by delegates at the conference, held in New Orleans. Paul earned 438 votes.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tied for third place with 18 percent of the vote.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee earned 4 percent, followed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, both with 3 percent. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum finished with 2 percent, while former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson came in last with 1 percent.
Conference-goers had predicted that Romney and Paul would compete for the straw poll's top two spots, as their supporters worked hard to get like-minded delegates to the voting room.
A group called "Evangelicals for Mitt" was a visible presence at the conference, handing out copies of Romney's new book and pink piggy banks emblazoned with the slogan, "Elect a president who won't break the bank."
Video: Jindal to RNC: Avoid Bourbon Street
Paul's loyal supporters, many of them college-aged, showed up in droves on Saturday to cast ballots before attending the congressman's speech in the afternoon.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/10/republican.conference/
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/POLITICS/04/10/republican.conference/story.ron.paul.gi.jpg
Romney did not appear at the New Orleans conference, but received 439 votes -- or 24 percent -- of the 1,806 ballots cast by delegates at the conference, held in New Orleans. Paul earned 438 votes.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tied for third place with 18 percent of the vote.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee earned 4 percent, followed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, both with 3 percent. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum finished with 2 percent, while former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson came in last with 1 percent.
Conference-goers had predicted that Romney and Paul would compete for the straw poll's top two spots, as their supporters worked hard to get like-minded delegates to the voting room.
A group called "Evangelicals for Mitt" was a visible presence at the conference, handing out copies of Romney's new book and pink piggy banks emblazoned with the slogan, "Elect a president who won't break the bank."
Video: Jindal to RNC: Avoid Bourbon Street
Paul's loyal supporters, many of them college-aged, showed up in droves on Saturday to cast ballots before attending the congressman's speech in the afternoon.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/10/republican.conference/