E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSBy NBC's Carrie Dann
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Ron Paul, a favorite of libertarian-leaning Republicans and young activists, has won another straw poll.
Paul received 37 percent of the vote in the Values Voter Summit straw poll Saturday at the annual gathering of conservative religious voters in Washington.
Pizza magnate Herman Cain, who gave a rousing speech at the confab yesterday, came in second with 23 percent. Former Sen. Rick Santorum, who - along with his family - spent additional hours milling around the conference grounds to speak one-on-one with voters, won 16 percent.
Tied at fourth place were Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann, who each received eight percent of the vote.
Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumed national frontrunner in the race whose Mormon faith had been conspicuously raised by two of the event's evangelical speakers, came in fifth at four percent of the vote.
Straw pollers also asked attendees at the conference who they favor as their eventual nominee's vice presidential pick. The top four in that category were: Bachmann, Cain, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Santorum.
Leave a Comment:
Paul's supporters follow him around like Grateful Dead fans.
This is like having the Three Stooges and having to vote which one do you want to be president. This group is laughable and not to be taken seriously.
Ron Paul is wasting his time running as a Repub. They will NEVER give him the nomination. He should run as an Independent or Libertarian. There are going to be A LOT of people who will not want to vote for Romney or Obama.
Head to head Ron Paul crushes Obama in national polls. If Ron Paul doesn't get the nonination people still have the choice to write him in on their ballot.
Head to head Ron Paul crushes Obama in national polls.
What??? What poll is that?? Obama is leading every Republican candidate except Romney and that one is even. Man -- get some better drugs -- you need them.
ANYONE who as an MD says he would let a man die because he has no insurance is not my idea of a doctor, nor a man, and definetly not a President. You can take all the rest of his ideas and tout them to the heavens. He took an oath and now he openly says he would not hold himself to the standards of that oath. That is unforgiveable. Nothing he says is believeable and by this he proves he means nothing of what he says.
I know lets take one sentence out of context from the entire life of each candidate and judge them on it. That should get us a good President.
I didn't care for politics or politicians at all until I learned about Ron Paul. I thought that they were fake, over-friendly liars that insisted on shaking my hand and giving me a three-dollar bill grin.
Paul is a breath of fresh air to me. I was an apathetic registered voter that thought, "What's the use? America is headed straight down the tubes anyway." Now I know that someone is out there pulling for America.
Ron Paul 2012.
@Ray-402... He never said he would let anybody die. Get your facts checked. Dr. Paul's answer at the debate after the idiots stopped cheering was "No".
give it a rest
dont confuse people with facts...they would rather believe the lies they are told or are propagating.
You need to prove he said that. No can't because he did not say that but I will be waiting to see your proof.
looks like rednecks,god belivers and Republicansgo well together, ah i forgotten they are the same crap
The left is scared to death of Ron Paul who calls it like it is!The rest of the folks running are the same old thing that got us here.
Most of the mainstream taxpayer bloodsucking GOP is scared to death of him too. The FED bankers and military contractors look under their beds at night for Ron Paul.
Not nearly as much as Republicans fear him. Ron Paul is a problem for conservatives ~ they will not allow him the nomination but if he splits to run as a Libertarian he re-elects Obama. Democrats will not lose their base but the GOP will find the split between Paul and the mainstream Republican nominee insurmountable. Should that occur, even at 38-40% popularity Obama prevails. The Republicans' problem with Paul is that he won't quit and go away and the party movers and shakers cannot find anything that will disqualify his candidacy. Interesting dilemma.
He sounds like a lefty Liberal to me!!
The left is scared to death of Ron Paul who calls it like it is
Sure -- just like the were "scared" of Palin, then "scared" of Romney then "scared" of Trump then "scared" of Bachmann then "scared" of Perry then "scared" of Christie then "scared" of Cain and now "scared" of Paul. Try to get this into your tiny brain dottohead -- the left is not "scared" of any of the teapublican crazies currently running for president. They are a collection of radical, fanatical, nut cases and the American people do not elect nut cases.
Right on Charlie
Why isn't there a picture of Ron Paul to go with the article?
Ron Paul remains an outsider in D.C. and in the media spin headquarters. He has a vast network of supporters but will remain in the shadows of the spot light for many reasons. All of his debating and ideology resorts to less involvement in anything. A pull-back, so to speak, from an over reaching Government involved with way too many tasks, which is costing the Nation its future. Special interest on both parties has spoiled our Government into believing this Nation can not think on its own, when in fact, it is the exact opposite, and currently our very own Government is choking the living chit out of this Nation with mounds and mountainous waste, fraud, and abuse by its very own caretakers, who we continue to elect. No matter how ludicrous you think Ron is, by embracing any of the other candidates, you embrace more of the same. Your mirror does not reflect a false image but many of our current band of special interest politicians have a mirror, and on the surface they appear normal, but look a little closer and you see it is really a two-way mirror with the side you don't see holding the power to make the reflection do a little song and dance show for you people,..... who continue to consume all the blinders.
All the founders of this country were unpopular as hell. The Loyalists were VERY resistant to change. They all wanted to stick their heads in the sand and stay loyal to the crown until the tide had turned in the war. Only then did the average American back the Revolution of change.
The Loyalists felt safe with the old government even though they were getting screwed more every day. Their rights as individuals were disappearing and the taxation was off the charts to support foreign wars for corporate profits and employees or lobby's of the crown. They got nothing for their taxes paid. The Tea Tax was the last straw because the East Indies corporation was allowed to collect it for themselves just as the Federal Reserve collects through their IRS collection agency. All money collected by the IRS is a taxation for a private corporations profits.
The founders put up with about one tenth of the financial terrorism we are currently put up with and the Tea Tax was only a 3% hike. The current complacency of the citizens of the US borders on insanity. We went from a "Don't Tread On Me" battle cry against government to a "Thank You Sir, May I Have Another".
The radicalization of the middle class taxpayer is floundering to say the least. They younger generation is almost non existent politically despite having the most to lose. They might as well start learning Chinese and take pyramid building classes for the Federal Reserve bankers.
So your history lesson means we agree,
Old or not, I support Ron. It is very unlikely he will win the nomination, too many unforeseen forces to put the consistent ideas of Ron out in the pasture.
I was agreeing with you MidwestMac. However, it is not about "unforeseen forces". It is real simple....
As I mentioned below... how do you ever pass responsible legislation or get a good candidate when 65% of the country is dependent on and addicted to deficit spending?
This is the same way all the incumbents who orchestrated, executed and covered up the largest financial meltdown in global history were reelected last election. I mean the middle class taxpayers were sitting there with their jaws hanging open in confusion. How could all these financial terrorists get reelected again without even an investigation? One simple thing.......... deficit spending. They simply promised to keep all the spending going and the deficit junkies would get their money drug.
The entire Democratic party and mainstream GOP are doing the same thing again this election. There is no logic or financial responsibility involved. "I have to protect my free ride" is what the election is all about. The majority of the country benefit from deficit spending so that is what we will get. Much like slavery in the 1800's. The majority benefited so the minority gets screwed.
the fact that all these politicians are winning different polls and not a single one has won multiple times means that the republican party really has no idea who they want to run against the future winner, Obama.
To hell with the Republican Party and what "THEY" want. They are a bunch of lobby's and special interest groups. We care about what the "average citizen" wants in a candidate and one you eliminate all the people connected with deficit spending as a means of support Ron Paul is the most popular candidate, generally by a landslide.
These "dependents" are of course for a "mainstream candidate" who will keep everything the same. This includes the 47% that pay zero federal income taxes and use the most entitlements/services. Then we have all the federal employees, federal retirees, military, military retirees, defense contractors, other federal contractors, union pensioners that were bailed out, corporations that were bailed out, retirees of bailed out corporations, banks that were bailed out etc etc etc. They need the current regime of mainstream politicians to keep the deficit growing. They don't care how much the debt is because they either don't pay anything or are employed by it.
The polls reflect the Demographics. When they don't want a Ron Paul to win they go to an area saturated with the people above. It is that simple. We have people supported by deficit spending and people who are not.
Unfortunately, the Democratic Party has no choices even in these turbulent times. They are stuck with the same choice you have in a Dictatorship which is......... the current dictator. How does the party come to that conclusion?.... Because the Dictator says so and you will get 4 more years of the same. We could really use a "Ron Paul" style Democratic candidate to show they are not just sitting with their heads in the sand through all this government financial terrorism.
From a conservative values standpoint, Dr. Paul is probably the closest match but he will not win the beauty contest. He has no sizzle; no political sex appeal. That is important among Republicans for how else do you explain the fascination with Bachmann, Palin, Perry, and even Romney? All four are as vacant as an empty lot but they attract a following, in fact, a sizable one. Unless he blows it of his own volition, Romney wins the nomination because he is the establishment Republican choice ~ for the moment. Perry is already toast and Michelle is kept around as eye candy. Cain is a non-factor despite his fleeting moments of glory. I still contend that the backroom boys at RNC and GOP moneybags recognize the weakness of this field and are still searching for a late entry they can back. That would have been Christie, had he run.
These polls they re having are only staw polls. The actual election (when it counts) is next year. So far, anyhow. And no Republican has drawn a dominate share of the party`s followers. Obama is not weak, but he seems that way to those who want a man on horseback. Obama understands the constituional limits on the presidency. Those presidents who wanted to be an imperial president got in trouble for overdong it. But Obama knows when to stop. Libya? Just honoring our NATO treaty obligations. If we are obligated by a treaty, then as long as the treaty is in place we must respond. Our involvement has been proper under law.
Ron Paul wants to legalize heroin and prostitution, and he won the Value Voters straw poll???????????????????????? What kind of values do these hypocrites have anyway???
Go figure!
Excuse me sir. He does not want to legalize drugs. Do you know the difference between a state law and a federal law? If i physically harmed you, I would go to state prison for 6 months. If i grew over 1,000 marijuana plants i would go to federal prison for 10 years. Do you see anything wrong with that? He does not want to legalize drugs. He wants to end the federal drug war, That gives non violent 1st time offenders harsh sentences through federal mandatory minimum sentencing. He wants to leave it to the states (People) to decide.
Oh we can get candidates with great values. They all talk about keeping everything in the world illegal then they are banging everything that walks in Washington or cramming their religion down our throats.
Very few people can comprehend the Constitution at this point because we have all but abandoned its principal of decentralized government with powerful states and an "ornamental" federal government. The federal government has no right dictating drug laws to the states. In the Constitution federal powers are VERY specific and none can be construed to include dictating drug policies, much less enforcing those dictated drug policies.
The citizens do not realize the danger of concentrating so much power into the hands of so few. History has taught us nothing and the world has not been kind to those who forget.
They were virtually all male attendees who had to swallow hard on the cocaine issue but could see the many advantages of legalized prostitution. They wouldn't have to cruise darkened streets or risk being exposed in a call girl sting. They have probably all read Swaggert's book by now.
He does not want to legalize drugs.
Yes he does -- which is one of the few good ideas he has. Our 40 year "war on drugs" has been a total failure. And for the record -- the only drug I take are blood pressure pills.
Ron Paul 1st place Iowa caucus. Wait and see.
Ron Paul is a good man, but he doesen't have a chance and is waisting the GOP AND DEM voters time he will only get the same 6,327 votes he get each year.............................................
Polls.
I am 55 years old. In my entire life, I have only been polled once.
Who do these poll people contact?
I suspect they are rigged.
If polls are "rigged" -- why do politicians and and businesses spend so much money on pooling and public opinion surveys? Funny -- it seems that the only time people don't believe in polls is when they don't like what the polls tell them.
Ron Paul is a nice old man, but hes boring as hell. Paul's comments about the killing of Al-Awlaki on Fox bull$hit news was very sad. I think Ron is a total loser after his comments on Fox trash.
American citizens have rights afforded to them by the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Obama assassinated an American citizen. Should have arrested him and put him on trial.
Give it a rest, get real, you are out of touch with reality, the guy was a loose nut and a killer. I hope he rots in hell. The Drone Strikes are justify when Americans kill Americans. This Al-Awlaki is a low life trash that would kill again. He was on the ten top kill list.
So I can Kill a Loose-Nut killer and not face any consequences? Sounds kinda old westish to me.
I think that what the polls says is that Romney and Perry are unelectable. So they ao they are lookint at the also rans.
The Drone was going to arrested him, than the Drone was going to fly him back to the U.S.A. and put this thing on trial. What are you on ? are you running low on your Meds ? you can't fix stupid and that's you, Sad. #180
If Obama's advisors have a single grey cell working they are telling him to cool it, be silent, and let these Fabulous Five GOP candidates kill themselves. It seems all except Romney are doing just that. I'm sure it will come as somewhat the shock for Perry's people, but that evangi-fundi preacher who relegates Morman's ~ and Romney ~ to cult status did a lot more harm than good for the Texas governor. Oh it thrilled the other evangi-fundies but they do not represent a majority in the Republican party any more than teabaggers's do. Both have a ridiculously high (and false) opinion of themselves.
"If Obama's advisors have a single grey cell working they are telling him to cool it, be silent, and let these Fabulous Five GOP candidates kill themselves"
You got it!!! Rule #1 in politics -- when your opponent (or opponents in this case) is making a total fool out of himself, LEAVE HIM ALONE. Perry, Bachmann, Cain -- the more they talk the more the general public sees what clowns they are.
Wants to end war and bring home the troups?? sounds like a LIBERAL !!!
Ron Paul would be unholy mayhem !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His comments on fox trash about Al-Awlaki was very sad. Ron lost my vote, the comments made him a fool.
I love how people come on here to bash ron paul. It's like, "he has no chance of winning". Well what in the name of usefulness are you doing here telling people that then. If it is a FACT (as many state) that he cannot win....why come here to tell others. Don't you have other more important things to do...like trying to get america to swallow the new jobs bill Obama is pushing?
Economically, I have full faith in Ron Paul. Read his stuff (end the fed) and watch his prediction (watch to the end!). Not so with Obama or any of the other GOP folks.
Furthermore, there is nothing crazy about trying for a more peaceful approach to foreign policy. Have we tried it yet? Save a ton of money build up our economy. What is crazy is to keep meddling and intruding in other lands promoting and building up their nations. While speaking about democracy and freedom out of the other side of our mouth.
"Patriotism to me is always to support the cause of liberty, and it turns out that governments over the ages have notoriously been the chief abusers of liberty." Ron Paul
"Now, most Americans can't even conceive of other countries believing the United States to be a threat. And yet, ours is the only government that will travel to far distant lands to overthrow governments, station troops, and drop bombs on people. The United States is the only country to have EVER (my emphasis) used nuclear weapons against people. And we are surprised that many people in the world regard the United States as a threat?" Ron Paul
Yeah, let's try Ron Paul's idea of the "Gold Standard". That's a brilliant idea. Where the government has to redeem your cash for gold. That hasn't been a viable idea since about the mid 19th century. Ron Paul is a moron.