November 30, 2005
Hotline To Conduct '06 SRLC Straw Poll
The Hotline in conjunction with the TN GOP, today announced it will conduct the authorized presidential preference straw poll at this year's Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis, TN from 3/9-12 in '06.
More than 1,000 GOP activists, donors, state party chairs, county chairs, members of Congress, GOP candidates and elected officials are expected to attend. Many Republicans say the SRLCs are primo party confabs, second only to the national conventions during presidential years.
The SRLC rose to prominence in the 1980s as GOPers began to consolidate congressional districts across the South. As Ronald Reagan told the gathering in '84 in GA: "It wasn't that long ago, yes, when the South was a stronghold for the Democratic Party. But from the spirit I sense here, those days are long gone. Today it's the Republican Party that reflects the progress and the vibrance of the new South."
At the '98 straw poll in Biloxi, MS, candidate/speakers included Lamar Alexander, John Aschroft, Dan Quayle and Steve Forbes. All were well-received, but the one man who didn't show -- then TX Gov. George W. Bush -- won the poll, a testament to his early strength among GOP elites. (Bush was busy campaigning in his GOV primary which was the very next week.) Forbes came in second, a reflection of the popularity of his tax message (which Bush later adopted) and his surprising strength among social conservatives. There were many 'Bush-Quayle' signs in the audience; Quayle placed third. Then-Sen. Fred Thompson got 10 percent. The SRLC can also break candidacies: Jack Kemp's speech was so poorly received that it portended the beginning of the end of his candidacy.
Invited potential presidential candidates include:
- Sen. George Allen (R-VA)
- Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS)(
- Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)
- Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL)
- Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN)
- Ex-Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA)
- Ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY)
- Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
- Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)
- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
- Gov. George Pataki (R-NY)
- Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)
- Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)
- Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)
- Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC)
- Ex-Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN)
Posted at 11:52 AM
Comments
We'll be watching!
BSR
BSR | 11.30.05 02:18 PM
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There are some generally likable people on this list, but no one that stands out for president. Newt, Jeb and McCain look like the better ones. Newt's past would prevent him from becoming a serious contendor. Jeb is another no-go. After five, and what will soon be eight years of war, economic downturn and broken promises, America desperately needs some new blood. And McCain is too soft.
Cheney and Condi, both of which are not listed and both of which have said they won't run, would completely fall on their faces if they tried to run. Even many here on the far right have had about enough of the Bush Admin.
John | 12.01.05 02:25 PM
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Why isn't Tom Tancredo listed?
Tancredo in '08
her | 12.01.05 04:15 PM
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Where's Condi?
Lyric Mezzo | 12.01.05 05:32 PM
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Economic downturn? Not only has it not been a downturn but has not even been neutral. This economy is in a definitive upturn, and overcoming higher oil prices, the worst attack on American soil in history, the worst national diasaster in American history to do so. I imagine it would be overkill to point out Bush inherited a Clinton recession, and an economy experiencing the negatives of the bursting of the ".com" bubble. I am with you, her, and what about J.C. Watts or maybe VP potential?
Steni | 12.01.05 07:04 PM
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As has been said, a whole lot of nothing here. McCain supported the suspension of the 1st amendment, Frist has not shown the ability to lead even a 10 seat advantage in the Senate, Jeb is a Bush too far, and Fred Thompson sold out the impeachment of B.J. The rest of the list are unknowns. Giuliani has shown himself to be a great mayor but his stands on the 2nd amendment, state funded abortion on demand and affirmative action are NOT positions I would like to see leading the Republican party.
I'd have to agree on Tancredo; he is about the only thing in the GOP that has shown any understanding of what the GOP is supposed to stand for and the courage to act on it.
Walrus | 12.01.05 07:28 PM
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The economy has been growing steadily for quite some time. Stories of an economic downturn are nothing more than a partesian myth.
This list is pretty uninspiring, but Jeb would likely be the best of the bunch. Dubya has done a good job and, based on his performance in Florida, I'm sure Jeb would do the same. He's not likely to be a serious candidate, however, because of the negative propoganda constantly spewed by the media and the left.
The person I'd like to see run would be Condi Rice. Her demeanor and intellect are outstanding. She is, in my opinion, above reproach.
Mike | 12.02.05 01:54 PM
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Mitt Romney is the man to watch in 2008. As more people learn about him, look for him to become one of the stand out candidates in the GOP field.
Nathan | 12.02.05 02:01 PM
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Eight years of economic downturn? What? What planet are you on? Maybe in Europe, but in case you haven't noticed, the economy is screaming. It's so strong that it shrugged off the hurricanes without so much as a blip. That's a strong, healthy economy. Heck, even the manufacturing sector is adding jobs at a pace it hasn't in decades. Sheesh!
Charles Tuna | 12.02.05 02:39 PM
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Too many Senators on this list! Voters want someone who isn't just a leader, but talks like one. They don't want to hear about how that Senator came up with this compromise. That isn't leadership. I think the only Senator immune from this is McCain, and the rest couldn't win as the nominee.
Final thought: Secretary Rice needs to be added.
Bill Crawford | 12.02.05 05:41 PM
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Steni,
I see your point regarding the economic side of the equasion. Forgive me. I live in Central Illinois, where everything is always in a total funk, and even when it's not, everything is just so d*mn depressing that no one seems to notice. Otherwise, I stand by all the other stuff I said. One of the glaring problem with the Bush Admin is that this country has become so polarized under him. It's all the Democrats fault, I know. But if Bush were a strong, decisive conservative leader (something similar to the guy we thought we elected) than he'd be able to talk directly to the American people and set the record straight like how Reagan used to do. As far as I'm concerned, Bush has sold us out on too many important issues to be fully trusted. His only strong spot is national defense, but he seems like he's even lost his way on that. He can say the war is going well all he wants, but that doesn't make it true. I want the US to win this thing and then get the h*ll out of that glorified sandbox that is Iraq. Sadly, the children can't play nicely over there, so the US has to go in and be their freakin' keeper pretty much indefinately. As we all know, you just can't trust the middle east to manage their own affairs without something going horribly, horribly wrong. So guess we're stick their for a while.
John | 12.02.05 11:05 PM
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Why is McCain listed as a Republican?
Vic | 12.03.05 09:03 PM
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I would like you to include Tom Tancredo to your poll. He has been holding his own in other polls that I have seen.
Get him on there and you will be surprised.
nfroman | 12.04.05 07:30 AM
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Sad but true folks... Condi would be a horrible President. It would be her ruination. The American
Presidency in it's current (as it's always been) imcarnation is meant for one creature : a Capitalistic Misogynistic Egocentric Western Male.
alyson | 12.04.05 03:42 PM
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I would NEVER go with McCain for president. Just start watching and you will find him siding with the democrats 99 times out of a hundred. I don`t know how anyone could think of him as a Republican. Now Tom Tancredo would be a great person to support. I would also go for Condi Rice as V.P.
sandi mertes | 12.04.05 06:29 PM
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Why has Cong. Tom Tancredo been excluded from the list of invited potential presidential presidential candidates?
If Cong. Tancredo runs for president, I will support him.
patriot | 01.04.06 09:41 PM
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What about George Pataki?
Is there room for a more moderate Republican?
He seems to be spending a bit of time in NH & Iowa.
Gary | 01.13.06 09:40 AM
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