Romney bests Perry in Michigan straw poll

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, right, introduces Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to attendees at the Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. / AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. - Michigan native Mitt Romney rolled over Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the rest of his Republican presidential rivals in a Michigan straw poll on Sunday, reinforcing a favorite son status that could make it tough for anyone else to win the state's GOP primary.

It was the second day of bad news for Perry, who lost to businessman Herman Cain in a Florida straw poll Saturday before heading to the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference in Michigan.

Perry's second-place finish in Florida came just days after he faltered in a debate in Orlando, Fla. Romney came in third there, although he isn't officially competing in straw polls.

More than 1,600 elected officials and party regulars attended Michigan's three-day conference, and state Republican Chairman Bobby Schostak said it's no surprise that the former Massachusetts governor did so well in Sunday's poll.

His father, George Romney, headed American Motors before becoming Michigan governor in the 1960s. And many people in the conference audience that Mitt Romney addressed Saturday night said they liked his similar mix of experience in the public and private sectors.

"His roots are here, they're strong, and he's the one to beat," Schostak said.

He thinks most of the presidential candidates will compete in Michigan, despite Romney's front-runner status. Candidates can win a share of delegates even if they don't win the primary.

Perry assured the party chairman Saturday that he'll spend lots of time in the state, among several that will hold Feb. 28 presidential contests right after the traditional early states - Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada - hold theirs.

"I think you'll see four or five candidates campaigning here," Schostak told reporters. "They'll be here often."

Michigan Republicans are holding a Nov. 9 presidential debate, but haven't announced who will be participating.

In the straw poll, Romney won 50.1 percent of the 681 votes cast compared to 16.8 percent for Perry. Both men gave separate speeches Saturday to the activists gathered for their biennial conference, with Perry winning some supporters but Romney clearly the overwhelming favorite. Michigan gave Romney his only primary win in the 2008 presidential contest before he pulled out of the race once it became clear Arizona Sen. John McCain would win the nomination.

Cain got 8.5 percent, while Texas Rep. Ron Paul got 7.7 percent. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann received 4 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won 3.5 percent and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum got 3.4 percent. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman got 2 percent, while Michigan Rep. Thad McCotter, who dropped out of the race Thursday, came in at under 1 percent with just five votes.

Straw poll voters also chose Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as their favorite to be the party's vice presidential nominee. He got 23 percent of the 481 votes cast, while Cain received 14 percent, Gingrich got 13 percent and Bachmann received 12 percent.

The poll was sponsored by the National Journal Hotline and National Association of Home Builders.

[MassManny]

If the press would just start paying attn to the social issues, which are of great importance to Repub primary voters, Romney should sink quickly. Not just due to his flip-flops on abortion, but his outright support of "gay rights" and "gay marriage"! He violated the Mass. constitution, implementing "gay marriage" w/o legislative authorization (when the Court that issued the ruling even said the Legislature needed to change the statute for the marriages to go forward). He also fully supported Kevin Jennings' "gay" propaganda in the Mass. public schools, with his "Governor's Commission on Gay Lesbian Bisexual Youth." A disgrace.?
YouTube: MITT ROMNEY'S DECEPTION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwwcAa6nHm4

[slappy-mcjohnson]

by America_is_Great September 25, 2011 5:01 PM EDT
Christianity DOES NOT tell you to do that.

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Read the Old Testament, AIG. And Jesus did - in his own words - saw that every letter of the OT Law is to be followed. He said it during a discussion with the Pharisees.

Book and verse coming later - I want to see if Perish is capable of ANY research at all... of course, I already know he isn't, but it's fun to watch!

.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

He did say that. No record as to if he killed any nonbelievers, but there were a good 20 years missing from the biblical chronical.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

No apology required for asking a question, DJ.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

by 1perish September 25, 2011 4:32 PM EDT
Where does Christ say to kill unbelievers?

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When he told the Pharisees that the Laws of the Old Testament are to be followed to the letter. Look up the verse yourself for once.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

Actually, perish, he did say that.

Don't blame your ignorance of your own holy book on me.

And AIG, I'll be happy to give you chapter and verse a bit later. As a hint, Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees.

.

[retm-w]

I guess these christians trying to starve and take healthcare away from the seniors in this country isn't considererd murder.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

Well, Romney is the only polished-looking one in the group.

I hope for Paul, but would consider Romney. He doesn't seem to be an idiot bible thumper like Bachmann, Santorum, or Perry.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

And you think you're not a dolt?

[slappy-mcjohnson]

by 1perish September 25, 2011 4:04 PM EDT
He just doesn't trust people who follow a religion that tells them to kill all unbelievers.

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Christianity, Islam, and Judaism ALL instruct their followers to kill the unbelievers, Perish.

Have you ever actually STUDIED any of those religions, or are you just blowing more hot air, as usual?

.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

When he told the Pharisees that the Laws of the Old Testament are to be followed to the letter. Look up the verse yourself for once.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

When he told the Pharisees that the Laws of the Old Testament are to be followed to the letter. Look up the verse yourself for once.

[burbanite]

Romney is just another Liberal who just happens to be signed up as a Conservative. He thinks like a Liberal and acts like a Liberal therefore...

Let's see, he has his own version of ObamaCare and he signed in a new "Assault Weapons" ban, those two things alone should be enough to be able to accurately categorize him dontcha think?

Give me a group of true Conservatives and I'll vote for the one I think will do the best job, right now all I have is more of the same stinking up the place.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

Interesting. You seem to have missed that what passed what almost identical to what conservatives put forward as an answer to Hillarycare in the 90's. Or weren't you alive then?

[slappy-mcjohnson]

by jackpenn September 25, 2011 3:03 PM EDT
I like Herman Cain, because he is not a politician,

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Unfortunately, he's an outspoken bigot against ALL muslims, not just the terrorists, and said he would in no way hire one.

You'd think someone like him would have remembered his OWN civil rights struggle and have a heart and some perspective.

Plus, the man speaks English worse than Bush did!

.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

Christianity does the exact same thing, perish, as does Judaism. Never read your Bible, eh?

So why isn't he also against Jews and Christians?

[doneinone]

I should hope he could win his home state. lol

[jackpenn]

I like Herman Cain, because he is not a politician, he's a smart businessman, and America needs business, not more political B.S. Of course, Mitt Romney seems to have a lot of the right ideas. I am a registered Democrat, but I always vote for the person I feel will do the better job out of the choice I have to choose from. I voted for Obama, because I wanted a smart, younger man to take a shot at it, and after eight years of Bush, anybody would've been better. Now, Obama had his chance, and I am looking at the next best choice, and so far I like Rick Santorum, but Mitt Romney is leading in popularity. Perry doesn't have a chance to win, being a Texan, and following Bush, forget him. America is not ready for a woman president, unless Margaret Thatcher is running for office in America. Sarah Palin belongs in among the Hollywood celebrities, the "showboater" she is. Ron Paul is too old, like McCain was also to be president. So, it will be interesting to see who runs, and I still say a President is only as good as his cabinet members, and his advisors, and how much they believe in their leader, and whether he is a good leader.

[HuntinFishin]

I am with you. I supported Obama for the same reasons. I like Cain. I would like Santorum more but his whole hang up against gays is a little unsettling. Does he really think he (or anyone) could repeal DADT? If that is what he wants to pin his electability on he is barking up the wrong tree. Next year, people won't care. It really comes down to the economy.

[doneinone]

Vote for Romney ...then we keep this current tax code which is a loser and will keep a drag on this economy and our people for years to come.

[dennisall77]

Thank god stupid loses again. We tried stupid for 8 years and you can see where it got us... in a hole nearly impossible to dig out of. Roney will have to select a teaparty nitwit to have a chance with conservatives and that will doom him with independents. He is in a lose/lose situation. Bachman, Perry, or Palin will sink him (not that any of those whould accept going down w a sinking ship), so that leaves lesser knowns with no electoral vote power.