Ron Paul Wins 2011 Values Voter Straw Poll

Texas Congressman Ron Paul has been declared the winner of the 2011 Values Voter Summit Straw Poll, garnering 37 percent of the vote.

Herman Cain finished in second place with 23 percent, while Rick Santorum took third at 16 percent.

Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann finished in a dead-even tie for fourth at eight percent. The rest of the field saw Mitt Romney net four percent, Newt Gingrich at three percent and Jon Huntsman in dead last with zero percent.

After the vote, Slate's David Weigel spoke with Family Research President Council president Tony Perkins, who credited a key strength of Paul's presidential run:

"Do the math," said Perkins. "Ron Paul and his campaign are very well organized."

Paul's campaign could prove to be a major 2012 GOP spoiler. The AP noted on Monday how Paul's libertarian lean has energized some conservatives. But when asked about the term 'spoiler', Paul had this to say:

"I have no idea what exactly spoiler means," Paul said recently while in New Hampshire. "If you're a participant and you have an influence and you win or come close and you influence the debate, I think that's pretty important. So I don't put a negative term on that as spoiling anything. Spoiling their fun? Maybe they need a little spoiling."

His support also showed during his speech itself. The Atlantic's Molly Ball captured how well Paul's rhetoric was received, describing his turn at the microphone as 'rambling, didactic, full of obscure references -- and rapturously received by his fans', backed by segments such as this one.

"As long as we allow the federal government to grow...things will get worse," he said. "But the good news is, a whole generation of Americans are rising up and saying, 'We were on track at one time. Let's get back on track.' Let's restore our liberty, prosperity and peace!"

MSNBC's First Read adds that another segment of this particular straw poll revealed voters' preferences for the GOP vice-presidential nominee. Bachmann finished in the top slot in that area, followed by Cain, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Santorum.

Comments

[windfeldt41]

07:47 PM on 10/24/2011

HEre's my thoughts. Ron Paul has the main stream media against him at least to some degree not giving him much if any attention despite he has won many straw polls and other events. This in it'self should make people think well lets see corporate media doesn't want him to win, corporations hmmm..
Then rick perry, a nobody that wouldn't face him in a straw poll in Texas because he knows he will loose against Ron Paul.

Romney is a bickering typical finger pointing politician no bette than bachman or cain.. Romney s a dead beat with no credibility, and every time he gets up and finger points it makes him look like a jack you know what more and more.

Cain, forget it a fruit cake with not near enough experience and a 9/9/9 plan that helps the rich and doesn't really help the poor as far as I can see. And then cain has ties to to many negatives that are anchors around his credibility.

ron paul is the best option and obama and biden for 2012? Oh heck no, Ron Paul is the best most decent choice for 2012, and he has my vote as it stands now.

[tino2892]

04:56 PM on 10/20/2011

Remember everyone was calling Paul "fringe, crazy" when he was warning people about the housing bubble and no one listened. What happened? POP!!!!!

Now Ron Paul is warning about the next bubble to burst: The US Dollar

Can we afford to not listen again?

POP!

[windfeldt41]

07:51 PM on 10/24/2011

I didn't know he did, but it wouldn't suprise me.. and yep the us dollar is sinking fast.. to me Ron Paul has my vote so far as he stays true to what he says and doesn't do the typical politician bickering and finger pointing. I remember in a interview Jesse Ventura had said he would run for vice president, if Ron Paul was in for PResident.. I think it would be pretty cool from what I recall Ventura did a decent job when he was govenor.

[Pdubya]

03:02 PM on 10/17/2011

Louisiana: 1st
Ohio: 1st
California: 1st
South Carolina: 1st
Iowa: 2nd
Value Voters; 1st

yep. fringe candidate

[windfeldt41]

07:53 PM on 10/24/2011

Don't forget he lost in Iowa by what a couple of percents to bachman's home state where she was born.. Yeah Ron Paul is no fringe canidate, he is one of the few decent statesman left that has any self respect.

[Just logic]

05:10 PM on 10/11/2011

Ron Paul love hate him but he will change things. Ron Paul 2012 vote because this is the first and possiblely last time you will vote for a honest statesman.

[whscms]

03:35 PM on 10/11/2011

paul is the best thing that could happen to obama. paul cannot possibly win but his fanatic followers will vote for him anyway and this will guarantee the "normal" GOP candidate (if there is one, maybe Huntsman) win lose and obama wins again. keep on going paul!

[Just logic]

04:42 PM on 10/11/2011

Really Huntsman. The guy who wants to start a war with Iran over the possible nuke. That guy polling in low single digits. Thanks for showing me you really dont know a whole lot.

[lisaman]

12:02 PM on 10/12/2011

I think the point went over your head. The poster was saying, at least this is the gist I got, that Huntsman is the Gops only chance to have a "normal" candidate and that because of the fanatics who will split the vote, he hasn't a chance, making the way for Obama because the independants will not vote for a wha ck ado.

[whscms]

07:46 AM on 10/14/2011

forget it fanatic fan

[lisaman]

12:03 PM on 10/12/2011

Check out my response to just logic (really? with replies like the one to you, they got some nerve!!) and tell me if I got your point correct.

[whscms]

07:45 AM on 10/14/2011

you did but the fringe fanatic fans never accept anything but slogan shouting

[jerdog365]

12:48 PM on 10/11/2011

He won ANOTHER straw poll, yet all the lamestream media wants to tlak about is Cain who came in second. All the other candidates are dodging questions on their records, the ONLY one who is not is Ron Paul. He has voted consistently for the same issues for over 25 years. NO OTHER candidate can say that, all the others are flip flopping.

[lisaman]

12:05 PM on 10/12/2011

I can safely agree with every single word of your post. I am also safe in saying, his ideas have been consistanly wrong and bad for America, with the exception of ending the wars and legalizing some drugs.

[jerdog365]

09:18 AM on 10/14/2011

As you can see, all the ideas so far, have ruined this counrty. How can you say his ideas are wrong and bad? Seems to me all the others want to just keep us where we are. At the VERY least he wants to end the wars , all of them, even the war on drugs. So your really talking out of both sides of your mouth.

[OldDanOtis]

01:40 PM on 10/15/2011

>I am also safe in saying, his ideas have been consistanl­y wrong and bad for America
Please, go on. Which ideas have been 'consistanly' wrong and bad?

[onlyonecandor]

04:50 AM on 10/11/2011

I think were seeing a level of enthusiasm for Ron Paul that can be compared with Obama in 2008.

[stloon2]

11:24 AM on 10/11/2011

The difference is the media and wall st aren't backing RP like they did Obama. RP's supporters have been growing since 2007.

[whscms]

03:37 PM on 10/11/2011

yeah both of them had a baby

[bosmeetsmem]

12:53 PM on 10/11/2011

It seems even some people on Fox News are waking up to the enthusiasm of Ron Paul supporters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFalvFiVpPE

[stloon2]

03:48 AM on 10/11/2011

Talk radio and their faithful listeners are still still ignoring RP and are busy trying to decide if they've used the kids up enough over in Iraq and Afghanistan or if perhaps everything might still fall apart when they leave. Or how far they can stretch Militarism in the name of defense until we have no more defense.

[fromtherye]

12:17 AM on 10/11/2011

RON PAUL 2012!!!

[Justice76]

11:00 PM on 10/10/2011

I found it hilarious that the organizer of this particular straw pole (Tony Perkins) went on CBS and basically dismissed the results of the pole because he didn't like the outcome. How pathetic is that?!

http://www.infowars.com/organizer-labels-own-poll-irrelevant-after-ron-paul-wins

[Constance Goforth]

11:16 PM on 10/10/2011

ridiculous... but oh-so-typical! Perkins is probably like any other media talking head, in that he's scared to death of a Ron Paul presidency.

[lisaman]

12:07 PM on 10/12/2011

Why? Is he planning to restrict their freedom?

[Larry E Hall]

10:19 PM on 10/10/2011

The Republicans complain about Romney flip flopping. They do it every week. It should be an interesting convention next summer!

[power2222]

06:46 PM on 10/10/2011

Ron Paul for President 2012!

Then pick between 2 very smart guys for VP: Newt or Alan Keyes.

Can you imagine how many liberal's heads would explode?

[moonwolfph]

08:00 PM on 10/10/2011

I'm a liberal and I thing Ron Paul is a RIGHTEOUS DUDE. He's the only one speaking truth to power, giving voice to the fact that we're up to our butts in debt to the commie Chinese, because we borrowed TRILLIONS from them to feed the war machine to invade a country that did not attack us, obfuscated the precious constitution w the misnomered "Patriot Act", etc. YES- he is DEFINITELY overborad w a lot of issues, BUT if he became president, maybe at least SOME things will be corrected.

[joanwiersma]

08:49 PM on 10/10/2011

" BUT if he became president, maybe at least SOME things will be corrected."
...
Right you are. :)

[therealarigold]

06:51 PM on 10/13/2011

This post gives me hope that there are un-biased liberals. I'm not sure how so many complained about bush jr.'s wars, addition to the national debt, and guantanamo bay/torturing, yet will vote for Obama again, and not Paul.

[Constance Goforth]

11:17 PM on 10/10/2011

I could support a Paul/Keyes ticket, but Newt is too sketchy. Dr. Paul is too sharp to pick him for a running mate.

[wrabbitt]

05:01 PM on 10/10/2011

Ron Paul appeals to some people, but then so do body piercings and tattoos, Ron Paul is not a one size fits all follower some think he would make a great president, I do too if it was 1779.

[joanwiersma]

05:08 PM on 10/10/2011

BS!

[Nathan Clingan]

06:21 PM on 10/10/2011

"Ron Paul is not a one size fits all follower"--what kind of English is that?

[armchairpickleback]

06:46 PM on 10/10/2011

Paul is a leader, someone progressives haven't seen in a very long time.

[wrabbitt]

07:47 PM on 10/10/2011

Well, he ain't no leader.

[wrabbitt]

04:49 PM on 10/10/2011

If I can get to OZ maybe the wizard can give me a brain.

[marcopolitic]

03:10 AM on 10/11/2011

yea because you need one

[tokyomk]

03:22 AM on 10/11/2011

LOL

[wrabbitt]

08:40 AM on 10/11/2011

At least I admit i'm not perfect.....................

[tino2892]

05:00 PM on 10/20/2011

Listen up Ron Paul would DECIMATE and DESTROY that mental midget Obama in a one on one debate. It wouldn't even be fair. Was Obama warning people about the housing bubble?? Nope

Who was right?

Ron Paul

[Free Your Mind]

04:00 PM on 10/10/2011

"After Ron Paul win, Values Voters organizer calls own poll ‘irrelevant’"

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/10/10/after-ron-paul-win-organizer-calls-values-voters-poll-irrelevant

This is the measure of how seriously are the Powers To Be afraid of Ron Paul - his win would expose crimes committed by the current oligarchy so big that everything we've known so far pales in comparison. They getting pretty desperate and soon will see more examples of the "anything goes" strategy in preventing this one of the very few honest politicians from gaining any oversight over they wrongdoings. This is just ridiculous.

RON PAUL 2012!

[wrabbitt]

04:50 PM on 10/10/2011

I needed a good laugh, I hope your not serious........................

[joanwiersma]

05:09 PM on 10/10/2011

Thanks for the link.