BamaGuyJP
03-13-2006, 3:18pm
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=ayiAu5Gx2OSU&refer=us#
Senate Majority Leader Frist Wins in Early GOP Straw Poll
March 12 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee won a straw poll in Memphis last night, in a very early beginning of the 2008 presidential race.
Frist received 36.9 percent of the votes.
The straw poll was conducted at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, where six Republicans, all considering a run for the presidency, addressed the group. They were Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Senator John McCain Virginia Senator George F. Allen of Virginia, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, Arkansas Governor Michael D. Huckabee, and Frist.
Romney was second with 14.4 percent of the vote and Allen tied with President George W. Bush, who was not on the ballot, but received a write-in vote for third place with 10.3 percent.
Four other potential Republican candidates, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, New York Governor George Pataki, and Nebraska Senator Charles Hagel, were absent. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said she has no interest in running for president in 2008.
In his address to delegates, Frist stressed optimism. ``In this land of infinite freedom, of unbounded opportunity nothing is impossible,'' he said. ``We will protect that freedom. We will secure that opportunity. We will hold fast to that shining American dream.''
Frist said the non-binding poll ``has captured the excitement, the enthusiasm, the energy of the Republican Party. This is my home state and of course you want to do well.''
About 1,500 delegates from 26 states attended the conference. In order to vote, a delegate needed a ticket that cost $185 before Jan. 15 and $225 afterwards.
In 1998, Bush won the group's straw poll, even though he did not attend.
Delegates
Frist had arranged for several busloads of delegates to come to the conference, which is not unusual for a straw poll, which stresses organizational skill rather than oratorical prowess. McCain, the only potential Republican candidate who has run before for president, told delegates to write in Bush's name instead of his own. ``For the next three years, with the country at war, he's our president,'' McCain said, ``and the only one who must have our support today.''
McCain came in fifth with 4.6 percent of the vote.
The state of the Republican Party was discussed and disputed throughout the three-day event. Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, who is not running for president, said that after the defeat of Bush's plan to have the United Arab Emirates manage some U.S. ports, ``We're a party in fear right now. We're trying not to lose and we need to be a party trying to win.'' He said Bush was ``under siege'' and gave as examples, ``We didn't have enough troops in Iraq, he didn't have his antenna up on the ports deal, and he hasn't vetoed a spending bill.''
Huckabee said such talk could hurt the party. ``Attitude determines altitude,'' Huckabee said. ``If we say we are in trouble, we are. I worry about Republicans who think we ought to change our message.''
Most of the speakers were careful to emphasize that the straw poll wasn't very important in the political process 22 months before the election, even as an indicator of who is leading among the party faithful. The conference organizer, John Ryder, a former member of the Republican National Committee, likened it to ``picking the best baby at the state fair.''
I personally don't see Bill Frist winning the Republican nomination. I think he only had such a strong showing because the conference was held in his home state. I think Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's strong showing really proves that he is a viable national candidate. I think the nomination will end up doing to John McCain, Mitt Romney, or George Allen. I really think McCain will lose a lot of steam before the 2008 primaries though.
I personally am a Democrat so I won't be voting in the Republican primaries. But, on the Democratic side I'd be interested to know who would win an early straw poll. Most polls conducted show Hillary Clinton at the top of the list. She isn't my top choice, but if she wins the Democratic nomination, I'd definitley vote for her in the general election. I really wish Barbara Boxer (junior senator from California) would run, but it's unlikely. If I had to pick a Democrat today that I thought would actually run it'd Russ Feingold (senator from Wisconsin). I think he'd make a great president. But, November 2008 is a long way away.
Any thoughts? Any early picks for the next U.S. President?
My dream ticket is Boxer/Feingold! I get giddy when I talk about politics... :)
Senate Majority Leader Frist Wins in Early GOP Straw Poll
March 12 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee won a straw poll in Memphis last night, in a very early beginning of the 2008 presidential race.
Frist received 36.9 percent of the votes.
The straw poll was conducted at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, where six Republicans, all considering a run for the presidency, addressed the group. They were Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Arizona Senator John McCain Virginia Senator George F. Allen of Virginia, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, Arkansas Governor Michael D. Huckabee, and Frist.
Romney was second with 14.4 percent of the vote and Allen tied with President George W. Bush, who was not on the ballot, but received a write-in vote for third place with 10.3 percent.
Four other potential Republican candidates, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, New York Governor George Pataki, and Nebraska Senator Charles Hagel, were absent. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said she has no interest in running for president in 2008.
In his address to delegates, Frist stressed optimism. ``In this land of infinite freedom, of unbounded opportunity nothing is impossible,'' he said. ``We will protect that freedom. We will secure that opportunity. We will hold fast to that shining American dream.''
Frist said the non-binding poll ``has captured the excitement, the enthusiasm, the energy of the Republican Party. This is my home state and of course you want to do well.''
About 1,500 delegates from 26 states attended the conference. In order to vote, a delegate needed a ticket that cost $185 before Jan. 15 and $225 afterwards.
In 1998, Bush won the group's straw poll, even though he did not attend.
Delegates
Frist had arranged for several busloads of delegates to come to the conference, which is not unusual for a straw poll, which stresses organizational skill rather than oratorical prowess. McCain, the only potential Republican candidate who has run before for president, told delegates to write in Bush's name instead of his own. ``For the next three years, with the country at war, he's our president,'' McCain said, ``and the only one who must have our support today.''
McCain came in fifth with 4.6 percent of the vote.
The state of the Republican Party was discussed and disputed throughout the three-day event. Senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, who is not running for president, said that after the defeat of Bush's plan to have the United Arab Emirates manage some U.S. ports, ``We're a party in fear right now. We're trying not to lose and we need to be a party trying to win.'' He said Bush was ``under siege'' and gave as examples, ``We didn't have enough troops in Iraq, he didn't have his antenna up on the ports deal, and he hasn't vetoed a spending bill.''
Huckabee said such talk could hurt the party. ``Attitude determines altitude,'' Huckabee said. ``If we say we are in trouble, we are. I worry about Republicans who think we ought to change our message.''
Most of the speakers were careful to emphasize that the straw poll wasn't very important in the political process 22 months before the election, even as an indicator of who is leading among the party faithful. The conference organizer, John Ryder, a former member of the Republican National Committee, likened it to ``picking the best baby at the state fair.''
I personally don't see Bill Frist winning the Republican nomination. I think he only had such a strong showing because the conference was held in his home state. I think Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's strong showing really proves that he is a viable national candidate. I think the nomination will end up doing to John McCain, Mitt Romney, or George Allen. I really think McCain will lose a lot of steam before the 2008 primaries though.
I personally am a Democrat so I won't be voting in the Republican primaries. But, on the Democratic side I'd be interested to know who would win an early straw poll. Most polls conducted show Hillary Clinton at the top of the list. She isn't my top choice, but if she wins the Democratic nomination, I'd definitley vote for her in the general election. I really wish Barbara Boxer (junior senator from California) would run, but it's unlikely. If I had to pick a Democrat today that I thought would actually run it'd Russ Feingold (senator from Wisconsin). I think he'd make a great president. But, November 2008 is a long way away.
Any thoughts? Any early picks for the next U.S. President?
My dream ticket is Boxer/Feingold! I get giddy when I talk about politics... :)