Romney, Huckabee Vie For "Value Votes"

Giuliani Fails To Convince Summit Crowd Of His Conservative Credentials, Coming In Second To Last

(CBS)  This story was written by CBSNews.com political reporter David Miller.

---

Republican presidential candidates looking to consolidate support among the base of their party left an important gathering in Washington today no closer to closing the deal.

Social conservatives came into this weekend’s Values Voter Summit torn over which candidate to support in the rapidly approaching primary season. By time the event was over, and after all eight GOP candidates had spoken to the summit’s approximately 2,000 attendees, it did not appear that any one of them had galvanized their support.

However, it does appear clear that the fight for these “values voters” is shaping up as a two-man race between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee -- the winner of that fight likely to emerge as the conservative alternative to Rudy Giuliani, who leads the Republican race in national polls.

The results of the event’s straw poll were especially telling: Of the 5,775 votes received at on-site voting kiosks, by mail, and online, Romney won 1,595, while Huckabee was only 30 votes behind, at 1,565.

But these baseline numbers don’t tell the entire story. Voting online required only a nominal donation to the Family Research Council, the organization that ran the poll and the leading sponsor of this weekend’s summit, held at the Hilton Washington. Candidates sent out appeals to their supporters to cast an online vote in the poll -- such votes turned out to generate about 94 percent of Romney’s support.

Among people who actually paid to attend the conference, people FRC President Tony Perkins has called “influencers” within their communities and church congregations, the result was far different, and a decisive victory for Huckabee. Over 51 percent of those who voted at the conference chose the former Arkansas governor. Romney was a distant second, garnering just over 10 percent of the vote.

"Today's victory in the on-site contest is yet another indicator that I am the top choice of voters in America who are looking for a truly consistent, conservative candidate with a proven record of results and the vision to lead America forward," Huckabee said in a statement.

Perkins predicted that Huckabee, who also finished second to Romney at the Ames, Iowa straw poll in August, would see a benefit once attendees made their way back home from Washington. “I believe that Gov. Huckabee will get a significant bounce out of this,” Perkins said, later adding that Huckabee could join the company of Romney, Giuliani and Fred Thompson at the front of the GOP pack.

“He could be a first-tier candidate,” he said. “He has held his own, he’s got a message, he’s certainly got followers. I think he’s come down here as a winner and a favorite out of this straw poll.”

But other leaders within the evangelical movement are not sold on Huckabee, particularly Gary Bauer, head of American Values, one of the summit’s co-sponsors. He said Huckabee, who raised only $1 million in the third quarter of the year, doesn’t have the time or resources to compete with the top GOP candidates.

“I’m skeptical, I am,” Bauer said. “I just don’t see how you go from having $600,000 in the bank one year before the election and go on to leap-frog everybody else, beat Giuliani and then go on to beat Hillary Clinton. I just don’t see it happening.”

The divide on Huckabee’s prospects between two allies like Perkins and Bauer is a fitting symbol for a movement that has proven highly influential in Republican politics since the 1980 election, but now is seeing its voice diminished, partly due to the inability of evangelical voters to coalesce around one candidate as they did with Ronald Reagan in the 1980s and George W. Bush in 2000.

If the Christian right fails to rally around one candidate, it could provide an opening for Giuliani, whose support for abortion rights and moderate record on gay rights run counter to the central interests of evangelical voters - among conference attendees, those two issues were the only ones cited as “most important” by more than 10 percent in the straw poll.

Giuliani tried his best to smooth over relations with the crowd gathered at the summit, delivering a speech in which he emphasized his record of eliminating prostitution and pornography from Times Square as New York City mayor, his intention to appoint judges who would strictly interpret the Constitution, and his hardline stance against Islamic terrorism.

“I’m not going to pretend to you that I can be all things to all people,” Giuliani said, acknowledging the policy differences between himself and the audience. “And you know that we have some areas of disagreement. But I believe we have many, many more areas of agreement. And the one thing you can count on with me is I’ll always be honest with you. I will always listen to your ideas, I’ll always take them into consideration, and I’ll do the best I can to honestly tell you mine.”

He was rewarded with a standing ovation -- however, so was every other candidate who spoke. He also came dangerously close to making a critical gaffe, nearly saying he wanted to “reduce adoptions and increase abortions” before catching himself at the last minute -- a moment that sent a wave of uneasy laughter throughout the audience. But perhaps most significantly, he made no references to his opinion on same-sex marriage.

[bigsk8fan]

quite the irony that a poll is called "value votes" and has anything to do with republicans. this is the amoral party of going to war in iraq, supporting sen larry craig, and doing nothing about abortion the last 7 years when they controlled congress.

[tnt1954]

capitalists go on strike refuse to capitalize
on illegal alien labour, american labour and
quit their posts in the ruling class and nobility
and go live like lazarus on skid row and the bowery
and elsewhere and seek God. the fat lady already
sang. minnesota fans rises from the dead. headlines
you''re not likely to see. roseanne becomes a loser.
as a full-time loser myself, i won today, i lost
ten ounces, and my full-time job as the guy who
won by losing. you surely can win by losing.
you can''t lose if you lose it all. fasting is
an age-old tradition during times of famine. but
if your wish is to die skinny? what does it
profit a person to gain the whole world but
lose his own soul. or his common compassion.
i defy compassionate conservatives to show
me their method of compassion, it seems
meaner and leaner. not kinder and gentler. it''s
a catch .22, the y in the road ahead. either
way right or left, or backwards, or staying
where you are, its a lose-lose situation.
don''t be a sore loser, lose gracefully. al gore
did such a good job of being a good loser. so
did cherry kerry. does he live at the ring
of kerry now?

[paulthompso1]

Mitt might think that he can buy his way to the Presidency, but Huck clearly won this straw poll.

The Truth will win!!! Go Huck!!!!!!!

[billpl-2009]

Values?...ugh?

I see no value in supporting wars, condemnation of other people''s lifestyles, depriving citizens freedom of choice.

exactly what values are they talking about?

[condumism]

These so-called values voters are the epitome of Fascists. This pathetic bunch have been voting with their heads in the clouds since 1980. Values Voters? MYASS!

[myidoncbs]

Another network reported that Romney won, with 27.6%, compared to Huckabee''s 27.1%.

Interesting.

If Romney can convince the born-again crowd that he''s a "Christian", that pretty much proves he''s the Devil, doesn''t it? Mormons don''t even believe Jehovah is God. Well, he''s a minor kind of God. The ONE GOD, according to the LDS church, is Elohim. Jehovah, Satan, and Jesus are all Elohim''s offspring. And they believe God used to be a man, and they believe he has a wife. And they believe a whole bunch of stuff that the average born-again Christian does NOT believe.

How very interesting, these W-A-C-K-Y Christians!

[jerr11]

The Christian conservatives will ram their beliefs down everybody''s throats.

In this regard, they are no different from their jihadi friends.

The two greatest evils in the world today are these moral Christians and their equally self-righteous Islamic counterparts.

Together they have killed more innocents than anyone else.

And with every outing, Craig, Ted Haggard, Mark Foley, you wonder who else is hiding in the closet.

Could it be Mitt, Rudy, Fred?

What secrets are yet to be divulged to the world?

[twebburl]

Romney/Huckabee in ''08!

[chucktruck2]

This room is spining.... Mitt won the in room straw poll and the in room on line straw poll....Huck did great at 2nd. Rudy only got 1%. Fred is out too.... someone wake him up and let him know. Hillary and Mitt ...This week has been marked as the turnig poin all others ...exit stage left ....heavens to mergatroid .... and that ..is the rest ...of the story

[drivelphobe]

What a breath of fresh air. Huckabee speaks with enthusiasm, focus, passion and common sense. Teamed up with Romney, they can''t be beat. Let''s quit entertaining some of these idiots like Paul, Thompson, Giuliani, and McCain. These are the guys. Let''s get America back on track and restore sovereignty and get a government that actually enforces laws and desires to establish energy independance. Out with the old and in with the new.

[macusweil]

Vote Ron Paul for 2008. The only Republican willing to speak the truth to the American people.

[macusweil]

Let''s end corporate welfare & balance the budget. Ron Paul for President!!

[micma-2009]

REPUBLICON LOGIC:



Total U.S. government paid health care for every Iraqi man, woman, and child is a very good idea.


Government subsidized health care for the children of the poor and the working poor here at home is a very bad idea.





Bush demanded that Congress give him an additional 200 billion dollars to spend in Iraq and then turned right around and vetoed the Child Health Care Bill. Republicons in Congress are backing him up on this.




Why do Republicans care more about their dirty little war than our children?

[chucktruck2]

If mormonism is the fourth branch from Abrahamic faith: Jews ,Christians ,Muslims ,and LDS . , Are Mormons 1st century followers of Christ ? I have heard they do not believe in the 3 in 1 doctrine I was told not to ask such things.I have always believed they were seperate . I am voting for Mitt I am Methodist. 56yr.old with a strock

[micma-2009]

REPUBLICON LOGIC:



Total U.S. government paid health care for every Iraqi man, woman, and child is a very good idea.


Government subsidized health care for the children of the poor and the working poor here at home is a very bad idea.





Bush demanded that Congress give him an additional 200 billion dollars to spend in Iraq and then turned right around and vetoed the Child Health Care Bill. Republicons in Congress are backing him up on this.




Why do Republicans care more about their dirty little war than our children?

[hermit22]

why is it so important how much money someone can raise? i say, get out the old mimeograph machine, print out 1000 questions, maybe 4000 questions, and see where all the candidates stack up on those questions. chart that for all the public to see. print it out, and put it on line. that should cull out the waste of time media interpretations put on things and the fence riders. it would be like college entrance exams, or passing the bar or medical exams.they sign the answer paper and that cuts the fudge factor 6 years later. do you like redheads? yes,no,undecided,comments:
what is your cure for zits? what would you do about deviant preditors geting out of prison and moving into YOUR neighborhood? id you don''t want them in your rich neighborhood, why should anyone else take them in theirs? should the LAWYERS living in your rich neighborhood who got rich and fat from defending criminals be forced to keep ex-cons in appartments in their own homes next door to YOU? Edwards,if 97% of the population has less income than you do, why would they trust you to really work for their interests? Hillary, if you can''t keep track of ONE man in a house with guards in it, why would the public think you are capable of keeping tabs on the entire country? rudy, why ever would the public trust some guy who cheats on his wives and agrivates his own children? HIP HIP Horray for Huckabee!

[micma-2009]

REPUBLICON LOGIC:



Total U.S. government paid health care for every Iraqi man, woman, and child is a very good idea.


Government subsidized health care for the children of the poor and the working poor here at home is a very bad idea.





Bush demanded that Congress give him an additional 200 billion dollars to spend in Iraq and then turned right around and vetoed the Child Health Care Bill. Republicons in Congress are backing him up on this.




Why do Republicans care more about their dirty little war than our children?

[micma-2009]

REPUBLICAN VALUES:



Total U.S. government paid health care for every Iraqi man, woman, and child is a very good idea.


Government subsidized health care for the children of the poor and the working poor here at home is a very bad idea.





Bush demanded that Congress give him an additional 200 billion dollars to spend in Iraq and then turned right around and vetoed the Child Health Care Bill. Republicons in Congress are backing him up on this.




Why do Republicans care more about their dirty little war than our children?

[micma-2009]

REPUBLICAN VALUES:



Total U.S. government paid health care for every Iraqi man, woman, and child is a very good idea.


Government subsidized health care for the children of the poor and the working poor here at home is a very bad idea.





Bush demanded that Congress give him an additional 200 billion dollars to spend in Iraq and then turned right around and vetoed the Child Health Care Bill. Republicons in Congress are backing him up on this.




Why do Republicans care more about their dirty little war than our children?

[micma-2009]

REPUBLICAN VALUES:



Total U.S. government paid health care for every Iraqi man, woman, and child is a very good idea.


Government subsidized health care for the children of the poor and the working poor here at home is a very bad idea.





Bush demanded that Congress give him an additional 200 billion dollars to spend in Iraq and then turned right around and vetoed the Child Health Care Bill. Republicons in Congress are backing him up on this.




Why do Republicans care more about their dirty little war than our children?

[micma-2009]

REPUBLICAN VALUES:



Total U.S. government paid health care for every Iraqi man, woman, and child is a very good idea.


Government subsidized health care for the children of the poor and the working poor here at home is a very bad idea.





Bush demanded that Congress give him an additional 200 billion dollars to spend in Iraq and then turned right around and vetoed the Child Health Care Bill. Republicons in Congress are backing him up on this.




Why do Republicans care more about their dirty little war than our children?

[gunownerdan]

Who is the ONLY anti-war and pro-liberty candidate running for president?
Dr. Ron Paul.
ronpaul2008.com

[radiob-2009]

17 flea infested poodles running for president when is a Statesman going to run?

[cfin5]

Here is some astounding news I just read on ( constitutionparty.com ). Bob Jones the 3rd., Chancellor of Bob Jones University, has today endorsed Mitt Romney a Mormon for president. This is unbelievable knowing their history. Man is this gonna cause dissension in their ranks. It''s another modern day Pharisee endorsing a modern day Sadducee. Pretty sad you see.

[micma-2009]

singinrick


How do you feel about Hulk Hogan?

[hermit22]

hip hip hurray heres hope for huckabee!

[paulthompso1]

I''m praying we''ll elect Huckabee/Gingrich in 2008.
What a great day that will be for our country.

Go Huckabee!!!

[cfin5]

Isn''t anybody seeing the "campaign shell game" yet? Mitt Romney is in "voting record fact" a bigger liar than Hilliary and Giuliani combined. He can talk out of both sides of his mouth in the same day. He was at the head of George Bush''s class in college.........Has the light bulb turned on yet people?

[jsilver2th]

Too bad they would let Colbert on the ballot...

[chucktruck2]

So that is how you spell sadducce. Try googling "articles of faith " for an eye opener. If you only knew what the "Evangelical for Mitt " where saying... Mitt won the in room straw poll and the in room on line straw poll. Rudy got 1% . I am still looking for Obama''s figure . State your vote and beliefs please be brave or be labeled ahit piece from the SPIN .

[tomflint69]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071019/od_afp/australiavoteoffbeat_071019162250

[kissamaarse]

These "values" Republicans ... These are the same type of thinkers (some are the SAME thinkers) who were on watch when Jack Kennedy, Dr. King, and Bobby Kennedy were murdered. They are all about war, and removing the fundamental power of our democratic government from the hands of the American people. We the People hold that power with the MOST tenuous of grasps. Ever so barely. To re-elect Republicans to power validates the further ascendancy of this invisible government, which with its mouthpiece, the corporate media lulls and soothes the American electorate into an opiate-trance. This unaccountable government, given to us in 5 second sound bites, a marriage between corporations and government. In the 1940s it held another name than it does now in America -- then it was termed fascism. What is it today? Mainstream America? Vote Democratic, vote Libertarian, or vote Green, but DO NOT vote Republican.

[cfin5]

chucktruck2,.....I want to see a Ron Paul and Duncan Hunter ticket. They walk what they vote. I don''t spin anything, unless it needs unspun. And I spelled "Sadducee" correctly if you meant that I didn''t.

[tbweb]

Gov. Mike Huckabee is a good candidate, the problem is people think he can''t win so are not wasting their vote on him, but if he catches fire look out! Huckabee''s real problem is advertising money and you gotta pay to play in the USA!

[kissamaarse]

These "values" Republicans ... These are the same type of thinkers (some are the SAME thinkers) who were on watch when Jack Kennedy, Dr. King, and Bobby Kennedy were murdered. They are all about war, and removing the fundamental power of our democratic government from the hands of the American people. We the People hold that power with the MOST tenuous of grasps. Ever so barely. To re-elect Republicans to power validates the further ascendancy of this invisible government, which with its mouthpiece, the corporate media lulls and soothes the American electorate into an opiate-trance. This unaccountable government, given to us in 5 second sound bites, a marriage between corporations and government. In the 1940s it held another name than it does now in America -- then it was termed fascism. What is it today? Mainstream America? Vote Democratic, vote Libertarian, or vote Green, but DO NOT vote Republican.

[paulthompso1]

You know what would be a news story...is how "Mitt" went from 99 votes in house to over 1500 on line. Same for Ron Paul. Huckabee won this straw poll and ''Mitt'' is showing his true colors by trying to fool the American people.

Go Huck!!!!!!!!!!!

[paulthompso1]

You know what would be a news story...is how "Mitt" went from 99 votes in house to over 1500 on line. Same for Ron Paul. Huckabee won this straw poll and ''Mitt'' is showing his true colors by trying to fool the American people.

Go Huck!!!!!!!!!!!

[j-whitman]

Get serious folks -- After all the lies told to America over all these years & the topper of them all,, Every lir the GOP Senators & Bush used to deny SCHIP health care to America''s children ---- This GOP is finished for decades to come.

[paulthompso1]

One other thing....please listen to Gov.Huckabee before pronouncing him as whatever it is that you have pre-determined him to stand for. Just one time by quiet and listen.

[brianbwb-2009]

Here we go again.

"Values" is the Republican code word for racism, and religious and cultural intolerance. The cowardice of the bigots forces them to hide their agenda behind a word that is actually antithetical to their true agenda, just like the term "pro life" which only applies to abortion, after which they are really "pro slavery", "pro war", and "pro death penalty".

The difference now is that they usually trot out their appeal to the KKK, Aryan Nations, and other such hate groups just a couple months before voting day. The fact that we are hearing this so early in the campaign smells of desperation, they know they have lost all credibility on issues like fiscal responsibility, education, health, and shared economic prosperity, so they call on the last bit of support, the American Nazis.

[paulthompso1]

brianbwb,

That is very offensive and a lie. I can''t believe that anyone is that....I don''t even know what to say!

[paulthompso1]

You would spit in the faces of those honorable people who defend the very rights that you freely enjoy?

What is the problem with you?

[cfin5]

PaulThompso1,.....I''ve never had to say anything bad about Mr. Huckabee. Yet "We the People" are governed by the Constitution of the United States, not by republican or democratic doctrine. The problem is with candidates suited up as dem''s and rep''s who are members of the CFR which doctrine "trumps" that of our Constitutional Authority. If you don''t believe me then tell me why is their agenda always the only thing that gets accomplished in taking away the sovereignty of our nation? Think about it. The Constitution and the Bill of rights are the only thing between real Christians and the chopping block. I say "real" for a historical reason too. The Constitutional foundation also is fair for those who do not wish to be a Christian, roman catholic, or whatever faith you feel like inserting in this sentence. Ron Paul has proven with his pro-constitutionally correct voting record he will protect your rights as well as the atheists rights. That is why I like being an American. I''m not thirsty for citizenry in any other nation. Not even a little bit.......Ron Paul, the unsocialist in ''08! GO USA!!!

[brianbwb-2009]

brianbwb,
That is very offensive and a lie. I can''''t believe that anyone is that....I don''''t even know what to say!
Posted by PaulThompso1

Here is an idea, say how anything in my post is not an accurate reflection of the voting habits of these so-called "values" voters. If you find it offensive, then you have tasted just a hint of what those on the receiving end of the intolerance masked as "values" have had to endure for generations.

[cfin5]

I''m outta here guys. Can hardly keep my eyes open.

[billpl-2009]

SinginRick,

forget about the Holy Roman Empire and the Crusades
Check out your Bible
This guy God wiped out the planet not once, but twice,
kills little kids because of the sins of their parents
next to God
Stalin, Lenin, Hitler are amateurs

[gmond]

ugh.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by PaulThompso1

Well?

[usayesterday]

I saw a "Log Cabin Republican" commercial on either CNN or Fox News endorsing Guilliani because of his support for gay rights.

At first, I thought it was a joke or a satirical commercial... but I wasn''t watching SNL or Mad TV!

It was an actual commercial paid for by the Log Cabin Republicans!

Now, if there''s anything that would encourage the "christian" conservatives to vote against Guilliani for the GOP nomination, then LCR commercials would definitely do it!

[jimfinster]

''''m praying we''''ll elect Huckabee/Gingrich in 2008.
What a great day that will be for our country.
Go Huckabee!!!
Posted by PaulThompso1 at 12:03 AM : Oct 21, 2007

What a horrifying thought. Newt (Contract on America) Gingrich and Mike (Biblethumper)Huckabee. Ain''t gonna happen, thank goodness.