Romney, Huckabee excel in religious right straw poll

October 20, 2007

With Sam Brownback out of the race, and Fred Thompson unable to deliver an effective speech, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee have risen to the top of the religious right’s list.

Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts and a late-comer to the anti-abortion cause, claimed a narrow victory today in a straw poll of Christian conservative voters assembled in Washington and collecting votes from members online.

Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and a former Baptist pastor, placed a close second in this informal poll — with Romney claiming 1,595 votes and Huckabee 1,565.

After the top two, there was quite a drop off. Ron Paul, who emphasized his opposition to abortion rights to the Values Voter Summit, came in third in the straw poll, with 865 votes. Thompson, who reportedly bored the audience to tears, was a distant fourth, garnering 564 votes. (The tallies for the other candidates are not yet available.)

Any thought that Rudy Giuliani would impress the religious right crowd with a pragmatic argument, and assurances about “strict constructionists,” turned out to be foolish.

Update: Josh has the full results, by percentage:

1. Mitt Romney … 27.62 %
2. Mike Huckabee … 27.10 %
3. Ron Paul … 14.98%
4. Fred Thompson … 9.77 %
5. Sam Brownback … 5.14 %
6. Duncan Hunter … 2.42 %
7. Tom Tancredo … 2.30 %
8. Rudy Giuliani … 1.85 %
9. John McCain … 1.40 %

McCain finished below Giuliani? Ouch. I guess this crowd isn’t quite over the whole “agents of intolerance” thing.

Romney’s beginning to sound like one of those awful informercials that so want you to buy what they’re selling that they keep throwing in more and more: “But, wait folks, that’s not all!” I just imagine him looking out into the crowd and as he spies someone who doesn’t look sold, he throws out another promise on one of the hot-button issues – any day now, I expect him to announce that he will push for legislation to prevent men from having abortions, planning for the day decades from now, when science will be able to permit men to have children (of course, my own theory is that if men could have children, abortion would be totally legal and highly accessible).

Mike Huckabee may be a favorite of the religious right, but there is no way a majority of the electorate will go along with his opposition to birth control.

  • You need to update this post with the on-site numbers:

    Huckabee received 51 percent of the on-site vote. Romney only had 99 votes (or 10 percent).

    Everyone knows that Romney was sending out big email blasts the last few days to get people to vote online. Huckabee never did that.

    Among those whose hearts and minds were at play, Huckabee was the resounding winner.

  • Is there a sight any more conducive to schadenfreude than to see the fundie tail wagging the Republican dog?

    Romney might have actually had a shot in the general election had he ran as the man he was when he governed Massachusetts. As Anne so thoughtfully pointed out, Romney just can’t stop turning his back on his old gubernatorial self.

    Huckabee, affable, funny and batshit-insane on protecting ova-Americans and spermato-Americans has no chance of being elected.

    As pleasing as it is to see the Republicans hobble themselves, I can’t help but think that, in the long run, we won’t be well-served by a Democratic thesis who’s antithesis is grounded in the Fourteenth Century.

  • Ron Paul does not oppose “abortion rights.” He opposes “abortion wrongs.” He opposes irresponsible sex and abandonment of responsibility for the results of sex. He opposes the psychological damage suffered by women who have begun nourishing new life within themselves but are then told that killing is alright. He opposes the sabotaging of the bringing of innocence to earth.

  • Ron Paul does not oppose “abortion rights.” He opposes “abortion wrongs.”

    It is wrong to begin nourishing new life inside oneself and then allow oneself to be talked into killing that new life.

    It is wrong to have sex and then totally abandon responsibility for the results of that sex.

    It is wrong to sabotage the bringing of innocence to earth, which so needs new infusions of innocence.

  • Speaking of pandering to the fundie crowd, the NYT is reporting here: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/obamas-gospel-tour/

    As religious conservatives gather in Washington this weekend for the “Values Voters Summit,” Senator Barack Obama’s campaign announced its latest effort to attract people of faith to the campaign: a gospel concert tour.

    All three of the dates of the “Embrace the Change” tour are in South Carolina, where Mr. Obama is locked in battle with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for black voters.

    Gospel acts including Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and Hezekiah Walker, Byron Cage and the Mighty Clouds of Joy are scheduled to appear.

    “This is another example of how Barack Obama is defying conventional wisdom about how politics is done and giving new meaning to meeting people at the grassroots level,” Joshua DuBois, the campaign’s religious affairs director, said in a release.

    And if that isn’t enough to raise an eyebrow or two, a reminder of who Donnie McClurkin is will send them right off your face. He’s somone who has been public about struggling with gay “tendencies,” and views homosexuality as a curse – he believes religious intervention can change that.

    What is Obama thinking???

  • 7.
    On October 20th, 2007 at 5:04 pm, Anne said:

    Speaking of pandering to the fundie crowd, the NYT is reporting here…

    I had such high hopes for Obama. If there was ever a time that America needed a giant, this is it. Instead, both parties have birthed a coterie of dwarfs.

  • Christian Prophet: You said –

    It is wrong to begin nourishing new life inside oneself and then allow oneself to be talked into killing that new life.

    It is wrong to have sex and then totally abandon responsibility for the results of that sex.

    It is wrong to sabotage the bringing of innocence to earth, which so needs new infusions of innocence.

    I could go on for pages making the argument for reproductive choices, but suffice it to say that I believe anyone who is opposed to abortion should never be forced to have one, and as far as I know, forced or mandatory abortion is not the law of the land.

    In addition, unless and until those opposed to abortion commit to reducing it by making sex education and birth control available to anyone who wants or needs it, they should really just shut up.

    Likewise, unless and until they can commit to improving and maintaining and supporting the lives and health and living conditions of all this precious and innocent life, they should keep their mouths shut.

    My body is none of your business, so I will thank you to butt out.

  • In a way I’m glad Huckabee won only because by their criteria he probably is most deserving of the remaining candidates.

    Ron Paul should also fit in well with that crowd on a number of issues (but his views on issues like drugs would keep him from actually getting their support). Besides opposing abortion rights, Ron Paul supports the agenda of the religious right in other ways including denial of our heritage of separation of church and state and support for school prayer.

    Paul also denies the extension of rights from the federal to the state level under the 14th Amendment which could allow the religious right far greater power to enforce their views. This is probably why many far right and neo-Nazi groups support Paul, realizing that his views would do the most to allow them to get their agenda through. Of course when it comes down to a choice between his views on states rights versus conservative social values, he went against states rights in supporting the federal ban on so-called partial birth abortions.

    I wrote more on this in two recent posts at Liberal Values:

    http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2280

    http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2250

    While it is questionable how much Paul can be blamed for the views of his supporters, reading the comments from the Paul supporters who inevitably descend upon posts critical of Paul give further reason to question whether this is a political campaign or cult. Recent comments from Paul supporters include assertions that the UN and Council on Foreign Relations are out to form a world government and seize everyone’s guns, that Paul is the greatest man who ever lived, and that both the United States and Israel are fascist states.

  • It is wrong to have sex and then totally abandon responsibility for the results of that sex.

    Unless, of course, the “results” need help getting health insurance. Or the single mother of that innocence can’t afford day care. Then all of the fuckers who are manifestly not without sin line up to cast stones.

    Yeah, I’m angry.

  • Regarding the comments on Obama above, I also have reservations about his use of religion. However we need to consider both sides of the story as Obama has also been speaking out regarding the importance of separation of church and state. For example:

    For my friends on the right, I think it would be helpful to remember the critical role that the separation of church and state has played in preserving not only our democracy but also our religious practice. Folks tend to forget that during our founding, it wasn’t the atheists or the civil libertarians who were the most effective champions of the First Amendment. It was the persecuted minorities, it was Baptists like John Leland who didn’t want the established churches to impose their views on folks who were getting happy out in the fields and teaching the scripture to slaves.

    It was the forbearers of Evangelicals who were the most adamant about not mingling government with religious, because they didn’t want state-sponsored religion hindering their ability to practice their faith as they understood it. Given this fact, I think that the right might worry a bit more about the dangers of sectarianism.

    Whatever we once were, we’re no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of non-believers. We should acknowledge this and realize that when we’re formulating policies from the state house to the Senate floor to the White House, we’ve got to work to translate our reasoning into values that are accessible to every one of our citizens, not just members of our own faith community.

    I’ve discussed Obama and religion further in blog posts including:

    http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2239

    http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2261

    The best response on mixing religion and politics comes from a Republican–unfortunately a fictional Republican, Arnold Vinick on The West Wing:

    http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=1868

  • Accrding to Intrade

    the big winners was Huckabee up 1.8% to 5.9%

    Romney barely budged up .1% to 25.7%

    The big losers were Thompson who has been in a free fall since the debate is down 1.3% to 11.7%

    and Giuliani down .8% to 43.9%

    I really don’t understand why sites like Intrade or the Iowa market don’t get more publicity. Slate has a daily update but I rarely see it mentioned elsewhere.

    The record of Intrade is better than any poll. Why do you think so few people pay attention to it?

  • Ron, you do realize that the media will chop Obama into paste over appearing with someone who thinks homosexuality is a curse and there is a “war” against it, don’t you? It will force him into a nice, tight corner and demand that he pick a side, and then have all kinds of fun with him when he waffles.

    I “hear” what Obama is saying, but what people see is going to rule the day.

    I would, though, take issue with Obama’s comment that we are a Christian nation and a Jewish nation…etc. We are a nation – period – comprising citizens and residents across a spectrum of faith.

  • In addition to the FRC results, Zogby International released the results of an online survey today that show half of likely voters nationwide said they would never vote for New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for president.

    At the other end of the scale, only one candidate — Democrat Bill Richardson — faired better than Republican Mike Huckabee.

    Click here to see the complete survey results or visit Bob McCarty Writes™.

  • Anne,

    “Ron, you do realize that the media will chop Obama into paste over appearing with someone who thinks homosexuality is a curse and there is a “war” against it, don’t you?”

    Keep in mind that my posts on Obama on this topic were from before I heard about him appearing with this person. Obama’s use of religion has been far from what I’d want in an ideal candidate, but unfortunately I see no ideal candidates. This appearance does tilt things slightly more negative with regards to my opinion of him, but I’m not going to judge him entirely by one event. This better not become part of a pattern. I’m not certain that the media will chop him into paste. The media follows the race on a superficial level and this might escape their notice. If Obama is to keep his credibility he better not waffle on this issue.

    “I would, though, take issue with Obama’s comment that we are a Christian nation and a Jewish nation…etc.”

    I would also prefer that he hadn’t said this, but I do balance it against his support for separation of church and state as well as the fact that he also included “a nation of non-believers.” I’d prefer he kept religion out of politics, but at least there are positives to how he does discuss religion. Again, my preferred response to questions about religion would have been Arnold Vinick’s response in my link, but I fear we aren’t going to have any major candidates take such an approach.

  • Who are we fooling… Mike Huckabee won in an absolute landslide when the votes from the conference and the online portion are combined.

    Mike has won the hearts and minds of this particular segment of the population and with that strong base he can continue to make his case to the Republican party and eventually the entire country.

    I also could not help but think that Michael Steele would make a great VP, I know that after the PBS debate with Tavis Smiley Lt. Gov. Steele was very high on Huckabee as a candidate.

  • From a pure Democratic partisan perspective (not one I typically embrace–I’m the guy who won’t vote for Hillary–but the specifics here are just too tasty to ignore), the beauty of Huckabee as a candidate is that he has great potential to split the Jesus-as-Jerk crowd from the anti-tax psychos. And, to be fair, other than the moronic comments about birth control–which I fully agree he should be bashed with–he doesn’t seem as hate-addled as most southern Republicans (and certainly not as much as Rudy, who’s all-hate, all the time… the real reason he might have a chance with the hardcore righties).

    But the fact that he governed as a pragmatist, not an ideologue, and raised taxes as pragmatists sometimes do, renders him unacceptable to the Hair Club for Growth people.

    I’m increasingly convinced that the only reason the Dobsonites haven’t embraced him, and put their money machine at his service, is because they fear a split with the Norquist crowd. I, of course, ache for said split.

  • Michael Steele? Are you kidding me? Four years of that empty suit as lieutenant governor of Maryland was quite enough, thank you…nice guy, but not the brightest bulb in the string, and we’ve done the dim thing for too long as it is.

    Sorry – the last thing this country needs is an overtly religious ticket that seeks to turn the hands of time back to another century. I don’t want these people in my government, scribbling God all over everything, I don’t want them in the schools, forcing people to pray, I don’t want them in my doctor’s office, deciding what I can and can’t do, and I don’t want them in my bedroom. I don’t want them in the libraries, telling me what I can and cannot read, or in my home or at the movies, telling me what I can and cannot watch.

    I want them in church, freely worshiping as they have a right to, or praying and having Bible study in their homes. I would so appreciate them getting out of my face and allowing me to conduct my life free of their constant proselytizing.

    Enough already with the New Crusades. Live a moral life – get and keep your own house in order, and let me worry about my own morals and my own house. Allow me the freedom to interpret God in my own way, please.

    And remember that the reason the founders drew a bright line between church and state was to protect the rights and freedoms of the minority, who have as much right to their freedoms as the majority.

  • The MSM sure seems to be in the grasp of the Oven Mitt. CNN.com and MSNBC.com are both currently running stories with the headline that Mitt Wins Values Voters poll; in the MSNBC story, Huckabee’s name doesn’t even appear until the 3rd paragraph despite winning among attendees and running so close overall (which, given that Mitt is considered one of the “Tier 1” candidates, should make Huckabee’s “surprise” showing the real news).

    I tend to agree at least in part with Dajafi: while I would hate to no end to have another Republican as the next President, I find Huckabee the least scary. Even though I disagree with him on 90% of everything, he seems much less unhinged than Giuliani or McCain, and much less cold and calculating than Giuliani or Romney.

  • Zeitgeist – a lot of people thought George Bush seemed like a “regular guy” remember? The guy you could have a beer with.

    While Huckabee’s hinges seem to be holding at the moment, one has to wonder how beholden he would be to those whose hinges flew off a long time ago. I shudder to think of this guy nominating people to federal judgeships or to the Supreme Court. Attorney General – what would his or her priorities be? You think there are a lot of Regent Law grads now? Sheesh. How about the FDA? Surgeon General? Granted – a lot of these appointment would require Senate confirmation, but suppose we only barely hold onto the majority? And think of all the appointments that don’t require confirmation.

    No, I think there is too much at stake. I wouldn’t be voting for a Republican in any event, but the consequences of electing someone who will set science back decades, and further blur the lines between church and state? I can’t even go there.

  • It would seem that the “flash in the pan” that is UnAware Fred has started the long, slow fade towards extinction. He couldn’t even reach the double digits.

    Well—he did reach the “double digits”—if you count both sides of the decimal.

    Here’s a prediciton for all the UnAware Fred fans out there: He’ll eventually hit the perfect triple digit.

    ZERO. POINT. ZERO. ZERO.

    See? A perfect score for UnAware Fred—and he’ll still be oblivious to the facts, so he’ll still be known as “UnAware Fred….”

  • Pingback: Atheist Revolution

    • Comments are closed.