In what is known as a “beauty contest,” Mike Huckabee has won the Family Research Council’s “Values Voters Summit” poll. The vote can also be called a “straw poll” in that it has no binding effect, but is a preference poll that measures a candidate’s appeal to a very narrowly defined segment of the electorate.
Mike Huckabee continues his strong appeal to that portion of the voting public that places “family values” first in order of importance when it comes to issues that they fell very passionate about.
Having recognized that Gov. Huckabee is strong in the “Evangelical” wing of the Republican Party, I still have reservations about his ability to break out of that mold and broaden his appeal to the rest of the various interest groups that collectively form a voting bloc big enough to sweep Democrats out of office in 2010 in sufficient numbers to slow down the headlong plunge we have taken into a government controlled economy.
We saw what happens to a party in 2008 when it nominates a candidate who fails to excite the party’s “base” and is so unfocused and undefined in his message, that he manages to turn off moderate Democrats and the Independents as well. What happens? Defeat.
Obama happens, cap and trade bills happen, massive borrowing and spending happens, Van Jones happens……..and, thankfully, Town Hall push back happens.
We all have our favorite candidate and it is not my purpose here to beat the drums for a particular nominee, but rather to suggest that the best interests of the conservative movement lie in promoting a candidate whose message appeals to as wide a swath of the country as is consistent with remaining faithful to a core set of principles.
Remember the dictum in politics that if you craft your message too narrowly and win 100% of a group in the electorate that comprises 25% of likely voters, you lose the election 75%-25%!
~~John Cronin~~
Washington, D.C. - Mike Huckabee has convincingly won Family Research Council’s second-ever Values Voter Summit Straw Poll. Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Sarah Palin, and Mike Pence finished roughly tied for second place.
Only registered participants of the Summit who were present at the event were allowed to vote.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement in reaction to the second ever Values Voter Summit Straw Poll:
“We were surprised that the event’s turnout was more than double our expectations, clearly showing intensity among social conservatives. This was the first time potential conservative candidates could present their vision for change. We have over 1,800 registrants and over 175,000 unique online viewers.”
The following are the straw poll results:
Candidate Name Total Votes Percentage
1. Mike Huckabee 170 28.48%
2. Mitt Romney 74 12.40%
3. Tim Pawlenty 73 12.23%
4. Sarah Palin 72 12.06%
5. Mike Pence 71 11.89%
6. Newt Gingrich 40 6.70%
7. Bobby Jindal 28 4.69%
8. Rick Santorum 15 2.51%
9. Ron Paul 13 2.18%
10. Undecided 31 5.19%
11. Other 10 1.68%* The full results can be accessed at www.frcaction.org
Members of FRC Action are only allowed to vote once. For more information on The Values Voter Summit, log onto www.valuesvotersummit.org
