In the Southern Republican Leadership Conference's 2012 presidential straw poll, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney beat Texas Rep. Ron Paul by just one vote for the win. Paul spoke and Romney didn't, but supporters of both candidates worked hard for a straw poll victory.

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That said, at both of these gatherings there was still a clear disconnect between many of Paul's supporters and the rest of the Republican Party. That might not bode well for Paul's ability to improve on his showings in the primaries and caucuses, which would require him to move a lot more voters than it takes to win a straw poll. And Romney's inability to come away with overwhelming victories in straw polls against candidates with little organizational strength or grassroots support suggests his frontrunner status is tenuous.

http://spectator.org/blog/2010/04/12...aks-past-ron-p