Reuters: Ron Paul, Herman Cain win Tea Party poll to run against Obama

[ZachR]

Ron Paul, Herman Cain win Tea Party poll to run against Obama (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/27/us-teaparty-idUSTRE71Q2SM20110227)
5:50pm EST

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Rep. Ron Paul and Georgia businessman Herman Cain were conservative Tea Party activists' top picks to run against Barack Obama for president in 2012, leaving former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in third place.

In a 'presidential straw poll' of nearly 1,600 conservative members of the Tea Party Patriots released on Sunday, 581 voted for U.S. Representative Ron Paul, a Texas Republican, to run against Obama next year

Herman Cain, a Georgia businessman and talk-radio host, came in second with 256 votes.

Palin, a favorite of the conservative movement who was Senator John McCain's running mate against Obama in 2008, trailed in a distant third place with 149 votes.

"Mr. Cain and Rep. Paul's positions resonated with Tea Party Patriots this weekend," said Mark Meckler, the Tea Party Patriots' national coordinator, of the poll taken at the group's policy summit in Phoenix over the weekend and online.

"The straw poll indicates the enthusiasm for these strong conservatives," Meckler said.

Both Paul and Cain spoke at the summit held at a convention center in downtown Phoenix that drew more than 2,000 activists from across the United States. Palin did not attend.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who addressed the gathering as he mulls a run in 2012, came in fourth place with 143 votes.

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; editing by Peter Bohan)

[sailingaway]

What a bailout loving candidate like Herman Cain was even DOING at a tea party event is a mystery.... or would be if it were a true grass roots event.

However, this story is well done and everyone should read it and direct traffic to it.

[AlexMerced]

Oh geez, Cain is the least of our problems, if he carves out a niche by stealing some romney/huckabee support that would be well welcomed.

[cdc482]

awesome!!

[falconplayer11]

Cain is the most liberal candidate in the running right now. All the old ladies at CPAC loved him because he was "such a gentleman" and rousing speaker. And for some reason, African American (and most other non-white) conservatives don't get the same scrutiny as white conservatives when it comes to the consistency of their policies.

[college4life]

The affection for Herman seems a little forced to me.

[ctiger2]

Cain is the most liberal candidate in the running right now. All the old ladies at CPAC loved him because he was "such a gentleman" and rousing speaker. And for some reason, African American (and most other non-white) conservatives don't get the same scrutiny as white conservatives when it comes to the consistency of their policies.

Bingo! Cain is a very good speaker and he's got being black going for him against Obama.

[trey4sports]

Is it just me or does it feel like Ron CAN WIN THIS THING? I mean, it seems like we have all the momentum.

[AlexMerced]

Cain is the most liberal candidate in the running right now. All the old ladies at CPAC loved him because he was "such a gentleman" and rousing speaker. And for some reason, African American (and most other non-white) conservatives don't get the same scrutiny as white conservatives when it comes to the consistency of their policies.

Huckabee is far more Liberal, and doesn't get much scrutiny over it, people centrism, it makes them think the person is viable.

[civusamericanus]

Is it just me or does it feel like Ron CAN WIN THIS THING? I mean, it seems like we have all the momentum.
Ron Paul is the only adult true fiscal conservative with a record to prove it, the other GOP candidates all appear like wishy washy confused little boys. Nearly anyone who follows politics knows, Ron Paul has been right on all the issues, from the present to the begining of his political career.

I too feel Ron Paul is the no brainer GOP pick, that feeling is starting to resonate with the tea party, and the neocon fringe of the republican party is going to have a hard time stopping it.

We need every supporter Ron Paul had in the 2008 election, to step up their game and become ambassadors for Ron Paul. We have less than a year before the primaries begin, we need to get our game face on!

[AlexMerced]

Ron Paul can definetley win this, but we got to focus on the stepping stones like the Iowa Straw Poll

[S.Shorland]

Yes,he really does have a true chance of winning the nomination.World events are proving him prescient and correct.They will try to attack him on his integrity and presentation.That is what the Fox swapped-video ploy was about: The reporter stating '..no doubt unfazed by the reaction' and then cutting to Ron looking 'unfazed' because he was totally innocent but in the viewers' minds it planted the thought: 'If he can lie (not react) in a physical and emotional manner,what kind of insincere,cold person is he?' It will be a campaign of endless sneers and attempts to anger/fluster him.Together with technical 'faults'! But he can handle those very well.

[civusamericanus]

Listening to Dr. Walter Williams guest host Rush Limbaugh today, was a refreshing reminder that Ron Paul's views are more accepted by republicans than the media and neocons would have you believe.