HuffPost-Patch GOP Power Outsiders Satisfied With Their Choices

WASHINGTON -- The Republican establishment inside the Washington Beltway may be pining for new candidates to enter the race for president, but two-thirds of influential local Republicans surveyed by The Huffington Post and Patch in the early primary and caucus states are satisfied with their choices. And while Sarah Palin is gearing up for a major speech in Iowa, just 8 percent want her to run.

Sixty-three percent of the 169 influential Republicans surveyed in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina in our second HuffPost-Patch Power Outsiders poll say they are satisfied with the candidates now running for president, while just 36 percent say they want to see more candidates get into the race.

When asked which individuals, if any, they would like to see join the race, our Power Outsiders were most likely to mention New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (31 percent of respondents), followed by Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan (17 percent). In the midst of our survey, Ryan announced Monday that he will not run for president next year.

While many would like to see either Christie or Ryan run, far fewer named former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (8 percent) or former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (4 percent), even though our question prompted for all four names. Nearly as many volunteered Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (4 percent) or former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (4 percent), both of whom declared earlier this year that they would not enter the race.

Roughly 12 percent said they were satisfied with the current crop of candidates and still offered the name of someone they would like to see enter the race. While only 36 percent said they were not satisfied with the announced candidates and would "like to see more candidates," 48 percent named at least one noncandidate they would like to see run. Their views are best summarized by the New Hampshire Republican who said, "[I'm] satisfied, but the more options the better."

The results come from the second in a series of weekly surveys designed to tap the deep reporting resources of the AOL Huffington Post Media Group in the three early GOP voting states. These nonscientific samplings of Republican party leaders, elected officials and political activists in the early primary and caucus states are an attempt to cover the "invisible primary" among party insiders that typically has great influence in the presidential nomination contests. While the surveys are not representative of a larger population, they constitute an extensive and systematic effort to monitor the opinions of Republican activists and party leaders in the early voting states.

We're looking to expand our list of influential and elected members of both parties in the three early states and across the country. If you fit the criteria and would like to participate, email [e-mail], and we'll connect you with the appropriate Patch reporter.

This week, we reached out to roughly 240 influential Republicans in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina and received responses from 169, including 34 from Iowa, 63 from New Hampshire and 72 from South Carolina. (We asked respondents to allow us to publish their names as participants, and those names appear below, but we will report results in aggregated form only.)

We also gave respondents an opportunity to respond in their own words, and those satisfied with their choices seem impatient with those pining for a "perfect" candidate and eager to get on with the campaign:

I don't think there's anyone (whether a declared or a potential candidate) that's going to completely unite the GOP this year. Wishes for a hypothetical candidate who could unite the party aren't helpful since such a person does not exist.

The current field of candidates, while not perfect (Who is? Except Barack Obama - and even the Democrats are wondering about him.) is very strong. They are experienced and successful political and business professionals. Men, women, younger, older, black, white, Governors, Senators, Congressmen, what more could you want?

The problem is when you have a polarized environment is that you have individuals who will only be satisfied with a "perfect" candidate and there is no such thing. People need to look at the record and listen to what they say and get behind the BEST candidate.

We have a very strong field of GOP candidates now. While each may have some flaws, any one of them could make a very capable president.

Tired of the rampant speculation, endless drama. Given the current state of our Nation and the current candidates putting forth plans, to further dilute the attention of the electorate would likely muddle the decision making process along with continuing to make vetting candidates a more difficult task.

While many GOP Power Outsiders would welcome the entry of a Christie or a Ryan, most we talked to are satisfied with the choices before them. The inside-the-Beltway Republican establishment may differ, but most of these influential Republicans at the grass roots are ready to choose from the candidates now in the race.

The HuffPost-Patch Power Outsiders

All of the individuals listed below have agreed to participate in the Power Outsiders surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions. Update (1:46 p.m. EST): The list has been corrected from the original version.

Iowa

Cory Adams (Story County GOP chair), Leah Adams (Co-Chair, Johnson County Republican Women), Chad Airhart (Dallas Co. recorder), Skye Alison (Insurance Sales), Roger Anderson (Member, Johnson County GOP Executive Committee), Shane Blanchard (Waukee City Council), Carmine Boal (Former Congresswoman, now works for governor), Steve Boal (CFO, Accu-Mold), Irene Chalmers-Neubauer (Republican precinct captain), Mike St. Clair (Lobbyist), Arleigh Clemens (Co-Chair Johnson County Republicans), Jeremy Davis (Councilman), Tyler DeHaan (IT Services), Debra Derksen (PR person for Johnson County GOP), Mike Elam (Organizer, Dallas County GOP), Paul Fell (Santorum supporter), Amanda Freel (State House Repub Staff), Natalie Ginty (Chairwoman, Iowa Federation of College Republicans), Rick Hermann (Sales Manager, WeatherTech Automotive), William Keettel (Former head, Johnson County Republicans), Kevin Koester (Congressman), Marilyn Krocheski, Jon McAvoy (Head of Dallas County Republicans), Isaiah McGee (Owner, McGee strategies), Chris McLinden (Axis Capital), Cynthia Michel (Precinct Captain), Mike Nolan (Republican Party noteable), Bill Peard (Waukee Mayor), Rick Sanders (Republican Supervisor), Chad Steenhoek (Member, Strong America Now), Wade Steenhoek (Ankeny City Council ), Ronald Stenstrom (Romney Supporter), Karen Svede (Former statewide candidate), Rob Taylor (Running for Iowa House Seat), Mike Thayer (Editor/Publisher Coralville Courier), Deb Thornton (Worked in Republican administrations), Robert Wennerholm (Precinct Captain), Randy Yontz (Director Leadership Institute)

New Hampshire

Chris Tremblay (Activist), Laura Foote (Activist), Shari Demers (Activist), Mark Cookson (Alderman-at-large), Jim Costello (American Government teacher), Kathy Benuck (BCTV Host/Blogger), Patrick McDougall (Budget Committee), Mark Vincent (Chair of Amherst Republicans), Gary Ellmer (Chairman, Porsmouth Republican Committee), Stephen E. Ludwick (Chairman, Supervisors of the Checklist, Ward 9), William Smith (Conservative Blogger), Tom Walker (Conservative Republican), Tom Rath (Consultant), Jamie Burnett (Consultant), Dick Hinch (Current State Rep), Pam Tucker (Deputy House Speaker), Dan St. Hilaire (Executive councilor), Frank Ferraro (Exeter Selectman), Matt Quandt (Exeter Selectman/State Rep.), Robert Washburn (Former City Councilor), Russell Bridle (Former Hampton Fire Department captain/State Rep.), Joel Maiola (Former Judd Gregg Chief of Staff), Ed Brooks (Former ME selectman, town councilor), Jim Rubens (Former Republican State Sen.), Bianca Garcia (Former Salem GOP Victory Office mgr), Amy Perkins (Former State Rep. - Seabrook), Eric Anderson (Former State Rep/Chair Bow Board of Selectmen), Kris MacNeil (Former State Senate candidate), Harry McClard (Freelance writer), Tom Linehan (GOP Activist), John Lyons (Lawyer), Rick Paige (Loan officer), Ken Jones (Member of Amherst Republicans), Brian Griset (Member of local political committee), Gary Krupp (Member of the School Budget Committee), Chris Buda (Merrimack GOP Chair), David Hurst (New Hampshire Young Republicans chairman), Maureen Mooney (Past State Rep), Ed Declercq (Planning Board), J. Christopher Williams (Pres. Nashua CC), Pete Silva (Rep - Nashua), David Bates (Rep- Windham), Chris Buck (Republican activist), Jerry Delemus (Republican activist), Tasha Olsen (Republican activist), Jennifer Horn (Republican activist), Michael Lambert (Resident), Mauri Foster (Retired), Lisa Hansen (Romney supporter), Diane Bitter (Rye Republican activist), Jeff Hatch (Salem Romney Town Chair), David Garcia (Salem Town GOP Chair), Marie Lopez-Reyes (Sales), George Markwell (School Board Member), Sheila Francoeur (Seacoast Republican Women member), Juanita Dangel (Secretary Hillsborough County GOP), Pat Hargreaves (Selectman), Julie DiCarlo (Small business owner), Ron DiCarlo (Small business owner), Steve Landry (Small business owner), Brandon Stauber (Small business owner/recent Exeter transplant), Eduardo Lopez-Reyes (Software engineer), Chris Christiansen (State Rep), Lenette Peterson (State Rep), Kathy Stroud (State Rep), Peter Hansen (State Rep), Gary Daniels (State Rep), Keith Murphy (State Rep - Bedford), Ken Hawkins (State Rep - Bedford), Andrew Manuse (State Rep - Derry), Lee Quandt (State rep.), Tim Copeland (State rep.), Gary Azarian (State Rep.), Bob Elliott (State Rep.), John Cebrowski (State Rep. - Bedford), John Graham (State Rep. - Bedford), Jim Waddell (State Rep. - Hampton), Fred Rice (State Rep. - Hampton), Michele Peckham (State Rep. - N. Hampton), Lawrence Perkins (State Rep. - Seabrook), D.J. Bettencourt (State Rep., Maj. Leader), Raymond White (State Sen. - Bedford), Jim Luther (State Senator), Gary Lambert (State Senator), Sen. Nancy Stiles (State Senator - Hampton), Tony Zore (Tea Party member), Zac Johnson (Technical writer), Bill Boyd (Town Councilor), Bill Modis (Vice Chair of Amherst Republicans)

South Carolina

Aubry Alexander (Charleston City Council - District 9), Thomas Alexander (State Senator), Dean Allen (Tea Party Activist), Charm Altman (President Sea Island Republican Women), Patrick L. Arnold (Campaign and fundraising consultant), Rep. Nathan Ballentine (SC House Dist. 71), Bill Banning, Sr. (Vice-chair, Lexington County Council), Bob Barnwell (Richland Co. GOP Spring Valley), Joseph Bates, Jr. (Committeeman/ Richland Co. GOP Dutch Fork ), Eric Bedingfield (State Rep/Congressional Staffer), Lin Bennett (Chair, Charleston County GOP), Rich Bolen (Chair, Lexington County GOP), Andrew Boucher (Business consultant and political advisor), Phillip Bowers (Chairman, Pickens County Republican Party), Dan Bracken (President/ The Auction Co. & Real Estate Inc.), Edward Britt (Engineer), Joe Bustos (Former town councilman), Jay Byars (Dorchester County councilman), Bob Call (Berkeley County Councilman), Tim Callanan (Berkeley County GOP Chairman), Ed Carter (Small business owner), M. Todd Cullum (Lexington County Council member), Rep. Joe Daning (Statehouse rep.), Smokey Davis (Lexington County Council member), Carroll S. Duncan (Dorchester GOP Chair), Dana Eiser (Lowcountry 9.12 president), Linda Eiser (9/12 conservative), Linda Estep (wife of Pastor at First Baptist Church of Columbia), Chip Felkel (Political Consultant), Will Folks (Editor, fitsnews.com; spokesman for former Gov. Mark Sanford), Chris Godbey (Political Consultant), Randy Halfacre (Mayor of Lexington), Dan Hamilton (State Representative), Carla Hardee (President, Dutch Fork Chapter of the S.C. Federation of Republican Women), Larry Hargett (Dorchester County Council chairman), Val Hutchinson (Richland County Council), Johnny Jeffcoat (Town of Lexington Economic and Community Catalyst; Lexington County Council member), Jim Jerow (Georgetown GOP Chair), Debbie Jones (9.12 Board Member), Joanne Jones (Republican activist), Grayson Kelly (Fundraiser), James Kinard (Banker, Chair, Lexington County Council), Todd Kincannon (Lawyer/former executive director of SC Republican Party), Bob Kouvolo (President/ MaxPt), Mickey Lindler (Chairwoman for Republicans of Lexington and Richland Counties), Chris Mann (City Councilman), Karen Martin (Organizer/Spartanburg Tea Party), Larry Martin (State Senator), Taft Matney (Conservative Political Consultant), James Metts (Lexington County Sheriff), Matt Moore (Executive Director for SC GOP), Susan Morris (Nonprofit executive director), Mike Murphee (Charleston Tea Party chairman), Brent Nelsen (Professor of Political Science/former candidate for Supt. of Education), Don Nye (Bank employee), Allen Olson (Chairman / Columbia TEA Party), Randy Page (President,South Carolinians for Responsible Government), Gregory Pearce (Richland Co. Councilman), Adam Piper (SC GOP 3rd Vice Chairman & political director for Huntsman campaign), Zach Pippin (GOP Media Consultant), Tony Pope (Insurance agent), Barbara Pulicicchio (Political activist), Rick Quinn (S.C. Rep. Dist. 69), Dennis Raines (Mayoral Candidate), Jeff Reuer (Vice Chair Goose Creek 9-12), DeLinda Ridings (SC GOP State Secretary / Huntsman campaign), Robby Robbins (Lawyer), Emily Rudolph (Sea Island Republican Women), LaDonna Ryggs (Spartanburg GOP Chair), Michael Sally (Hanahan City Councilman), Dennis Saylor (Chair, Aiken GOP), Bill Severns (Rep. for Beaufort Republican Men), Katrina Shealy (Candidate for SC Senate from Lexington), Lanneau Siegling (State Executive Committeeman), Billy Simons (Conservative activist), Garry Smith (State Rep), John Steinberger (Fair Tax activist), Mary Ann Taylor (Charleston County Republican Women/Charleston County School Board), MacLain R. "Mac" Toole (S.C. Rep., Dist. 88), Frank Townsend (Lexington County Council member), September Wellborn (State GOP Delegate), Knox White (Mayor of Greenville), Jennifer Willis (County Councilwoman/ V.P. One Tree Hill), Henry Wilson (2011 delegate, S.C. Republican Convention), James David Woodard (Professor of Political Science, Clemson University)

Comments

[Thomas DuGan]

01:38 AM on 08/29/2011

Folks
Why does there have to be only two -2- party's? Cannot anyone go further than just TWO party's?
How could an independent ever be nominated president? Correct; they would have the chance of a snowball in hell. It is time for change. Everyone is caught in the ideology of people saying/doing the same thing since day one. No one expressing their comments hither and there have moved, been open to anything other than what they are looking at, at the time.
"Lay with dogs and come with flees" There is another party being created by a person who is other than your ideology perspective; can you not look, though SEE him??????
An example: LuLu past president of Brazil, started the workers party; became president and was considered the best president Brazil ever had. Why not here??? Obama muttered change; though he didn't/still doesn't know the definition. Actually, Change is beyond not only Obama, it is beyond all of those talking. Start talking about some one who has something to say. go to Thomas Kipley DuGan 122 on facebook.com {jr housely}

[Makos62]

05:42 PM on 08/27/2011

Border's Books is closing. It summed it all up for me. Shelf after shelf of Sarah Palin big book "An American Story", cut to $5.99 from $49.99. And they still can't sell it.
Sorry Sarah, no one is buying anymore. But hey, make room for Michele and Rick, they will be joining you on the discount shelf soon!

[joeyfoto]

07:51 AM on 08/27/2011

Don't blow-off your day job at FAUX News, Sarah.
You will never be elected to national office.
Your unfavorables are too high.

You may have a better shot at a US Senate seat in Arizona,
where they have a history of voting for bigots and fools.
Keep your powder dry... and your mascara too.

[serena1313]

02:47 AM on 08/27/2011

Maybe the GOP power outsiders are satisfied with the 2012 contenders, but the Republican voters, aside from the t-party voters, are a different story. What most Americans have been saying all along is 'we want our government to work.' The polls continue to reflect that over and over again.

In a hypothetical match-up, PPP polling in Iowa shows President Obama with a commanding double-digit lead over all 4 top candidates: Romney, Perry, Bachmann & Cain. But in Wisconsin, however, Romney trails by only 5 percentage points whereas Obama maintains a double-digit lead over the other three.

I compiled a list of 17 issues, in no particular order, that matter a great deal to most Americans regardless of party affiliation.

1) Science

2) Supreme Court & federal court nominations

3) Foreign policy -- diplomatic relations

4) Women's rights

5) Workers rights (wages & safety)

6) Immigration -- The Dream Act

7) Equal Rights

8) Voters rights

9) Climate Change

10) Environmental Protections

11) Endangered Species Act

12) Safety net: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security & others social programmes

13) Financial, banking & corporate regulations

14) Healthcare

15) Collective bargaining rights

16) Jobs, jobs, jobs

17) the commonweal

Although this list is not comprehensive it's a start. More importantly, these are not liberal or conservative issues, they are American issues, notwithstanding there is a stark difference between the parties. In that regard, we need to have an honest discussion as Americans, not as two competing factions, otherwise we'll keep spinning our wheels going

[ASHTON CRUZ]

01:50 AM on 08/27/2011

Down on Palin??? Ugh! I wouldn't go down on that frigid jungle if you paid me in skittles.

[htwhyppe]

01:41 AM on 08/27/2011

The GOP is a joke. Keep us laughing. Perry, Bachmann, Palin -- LOL.

[asaman53]

01:37 AM on 08/27/2011

Damn, this may end my dream of a nude jello grudge match between Palin and Bachmann. I'm so bumed.

[HaroldHeckubah]

12:13 AM on 08/27/2011

Oh c'mon folks! As if this band of Wacky Wepublicans can't accomodate one more looney? Just throw another ring in the circus! The Armani Cowboy, The Minnesota Fact-Mangler, Mittens, Angry Pizza Guy, and now Governor Half-Round.

[stevestrange]

11:21 PM on 08/26/2011

It seems so weird to me to be, "satisfied", with this selection of candidates but hey,...I'm not a conservative.

[ASHTON CRUZ]

01:55 AM on 08/27/2011

It is clear, that after having GWB screw up our economy, the republicans have no intention of getting reelected again until the storm weathers. That's why they threw in Sarah Palin last time and why they are throwing this bunch of fools into the race now. They broke us so bad, they are waiting for us to fix it and are more than happy placing the blame on the rest of us. Smart move if you ask me. ... Who knew I would ever use the words "Republican" and "smart" in the same sentence. OY!

[Coyote1177]

09:54 PM on 08/26/2011

It's like a three ring circus that belongs in Hollywood not DC! C'mon. we need smart, level headed, moderate candidates (more like Obama) who are serious about fixing the problems or it will keep getting worse. Not leaders who are more worried about gays than the GDP. All these GOP candidates are a like a train wreck for America. The best Republicans were kicked out of the party! Obama is embattled, and can't do much with this bunch of losers. We need someone with more of a wide appeal or we may doomed to someone like Bachmann or Perry, which will be a disaster! I like Obama, and I think he's done a good job considering. I am not thrilled with him though. These GOP folks are so bad, even the billionaires may go broke.

[csnyfan13]

08:42 PM on 08/26/2011

"Someone else" polls better than Palin. Why am I not suprised?

[indy girl]

07:06 AM on 08/30/2011

probably any of 'em, all of 'em do!

[Omentum]

04:53 PM on 08/26/2011

Our politics without sarah is like a bird out of water

[piceaglauca]

08:05 PM on 08/26/2011

She might drown.

[el patone]

01:30 PM on 08/26/2011

This is not a surprise to any rational conservative or progressive voter I know. So can you start putting stories about this topic in the entertainment section, HP, please?

[indy girl]

07:06 AM on 08/30/2011

or diseases!

[ls263]

01:26 PM on 08/26/2011

Sarah and Rudy might just be all right, since the GOP don't want them. I may just have to have second thoughts about Sarah.

[morganlady]

12:18 AM on 08/27/2011

Those would not be thoughts, rather hallucinations.

[amaboss52]

01:02 PM on 08/26/2011

Palin is old hat, yesterdays noise, can we please move on without her? She won't run it would expose how many things are lacking in her personality and competence.

[BMcCue7]

04:18 AM on 08/27/2011

Besides, it's too much work for the likes of her.

[amaboss52]

10:57 AM on 08/27/2011

Can you imagine her as President (I know, but just pretend), someone's bombing San Diego and she doesn't want to get out of bed!