Following Google trends

[freakout9903]

I have been keeping track of the top 3 candidates in my opinion running for the GOP nomination on Google trends. The past month has proved to be a game changer. Notice Romney falling back to search traffic from before he announced he's official running. The past month as well Michelle Bachmann seeing a surge similar to the rise Herman Cain quickly gained and then lost but seems lately to be trending slightly positive again. As for Ron Paul he seems to be trending down as well but at a rate similar to the rise of Michelle Bachmann. If I can pull anything out of the trends that I have been seeing I believe that Mitt Romney has peaked and will remain a downward trend from now through the GOP election. Michelle Bachmann seems to be riding her "announcement" which will soon "level" out, and as that happens you will start to see possibly very soon Ron's numbers head back up trending positive from now til the GOP election.

Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Michelle Bachmann
http://www.google.com/trends?q=Ron+Paul%2C+Mitt+Romney%2C+Michelle+Bachm ann&ctab=0&geo=all&date=2011&sort=0

Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Herman Cain
http://www.google.com/trends?q=Ron+Paul%2C+Mitt+Romney%2C+Herman+Cain&ctab=0&geo=all&date=2011&sort=0

[gerryb]

You're missing some keywords, this shows a much different picture;
http://www.google.com/trends?q=Ron+Paul%2C+Mitt+Romney%2C+Michelle+Bachm ann%2C+Romney%2C+Bachmann&ctab=0&geo=all&date=2011&sort=0

[freakout9903]

well adding only last names for everyone, shows similar things aside from Ron being much higher on the charts...
Bachmann, Romney, Paul, Cain
http://www.google.com/trends?q=Bachmann%2C+Romney%2C+Paul%2C+Cain&ctab=0&geo=all&date=2011&sort=0

But there's nothing proving the traffic is 100% about them... "Les Paul, Pope John Paul, Paul Ryan"

[gerryb]

well adding only last names for everyone, shows similar things aside from Ron being much higher on the charts...

Exactly, people in 08 did the same sort of analysis, but forgot to include last names by themselves.. Which wildly distorted the view.

[gerryb]

I see you edited..

I think it is pretty safe to assume people searching for 'Romney" or "Bachmann" are searching for the presidential contenders, and searching just on "paul" is not accurate for Ron.. Only Ron Paul is utilized when searching for Ron Paul...