The reports of Sen. John McCain's problems with conservative leaders have been well-established, but it turns out Mike Huckabee's problems may be even worse, according to the results of the straw poll at last week's Conservative Political Action Conference.
While 31 percent of those polled said they would not vote for McCain if he is the Republican nominee, 36 percent said they would stay home or vote for someone else if Huckabee were the nominee.
More than 1,500 people voted in the straw poll, which found support for McCain went up after Mitt Romney dropped out of the nomination race in a speech to the conference Thursday.
While Romney was still in the race, McCain won only 27 percent of votes in the straw poll, but after Romney dropped out McCain won 37 percent of votes. Only 12 percent of CPAC voters said they would support Huckabee, and that was consistent regardless of whether Romney was in the race, suggesting that Huckabee is not picking up many of Romney's supporters.
— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (23)
Who cares what the Washington insiders think- it is still "we the people that decide" Unless you livein Washington state..especially if you live in rural Washington state.
Posted by Tim Kelley | February 11, 2008 12:13 PM
the poll was a joke. it was taken before Huckabee had a chance to speak and while Romeny and Mccain were only present. Get with it, bub!
Posted by Hoosiertide | February 11, 2008 12:15 PM
OOOPS! I GUESS THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THE KASAS LANSIDE VICTORY MIKE HUCKABEE GOT THIS WEEKEND!!
62% TO HUCKABEE AND MCCAIN ONLY GOT 24%!!!!
MIKE HUCKABEE ALSO TOOK LOUISIANA!!!!!!!!!!
WASHINGTON IS CONTESTED BECAUSE THE GOP REP SHUT DOWN RESULTS WHEN HUCKABEE AND MCCAIN WERE A MERE 200 VOTES A PART. THERE WERE STILL 1500 VOTES LEFT UNCOUNTED!!!!!!!!!!!
WE DO NOT WANT MCCAIN. WE WANT HUCKABEE!!!!!!!!
HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE!
HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE!
HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE!
HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE!
HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE HUCK-A-BEE!
Posted by Dan Campbell | February 11, 2008 12:46 PM
These straw polls don't mean much. McCain (or anyone else for that matter) could just bus in hundreds of their supporters, and in fact that is what I heard had actually happened. Furthermore, most of the straw poll votes had been cast before Huckabee made his excellent speech at the CPAC on Saturday. You can view it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iyV4UvYoCI
Huckabee also doesn't have to win all 1191 delegates to win the nomination. He just has to deny McCain those 1191 delegates, a quite likely scenario. Then, it goes to the convention, where Huckabee may actually have the upper hand, with his more consistent conservative record and his great communication skills. By then people will also be much more familiar with him. Conservatives who disliked him are now becoming more comfortable with him as they learn more about him.
He truly has a chance to stop McCain.
Posted by Allen Fuller | February 11, 2008 1:20 PM
The results of the CPAC straw poll present a totally meaningless and dishonest picture of the conservative support for Mike Huckabee. It has been reported elsewhere that 3/4 of the votes in the straw poll were cast before Mitt Romney withdrew on Thursday. Gov. Huckabee didn't speak at the CPAC meeting until Saturday morning. An honest effort to determine conservative support would have delayed voting until all of the candidates had been heard.
Posted by Ed DeWhitt | February 11, 2008 1:25 PM
Was the vote before, after or both before and after Gov. Huckabee's speech?
Posted by Dan | February 11, 2008 1:54 PM
Ummmmmmmm,
How about explaining that the poll was taken BEFORE Mike's speech at CPAC, and before many of the activists got a chance to see him in person, as opposed to being exposed only to the demonized characterization of who he is, that the right had put forward in the heated battle with Romney for the conservative base.
Laura Ingram this morning said that he delivered one of the best C{PAC speeches that she has ever heard, and she was a Romney endorser.
Don't think the poll holds much water.
Posted by Rensen | February 11, 2008 4:32 PM
Romney supporters were largely attracted to his incredible resume and achievements, something that Huckabee clearly lacks. Furthermore, the Huckabee camp continues to denounce achievement and considers personal merit and success as somehow unfair.
Romney supporters are also less likely to have a candidate's religion be a big factor in their decision making, AS WELL as to be repelled by those who prostitute their religion for their own ambition.
It is not at all surprising then that Huckabee did not pick up support from the Romney people.
Posted by Erica | February 11, 2008 6:19 PM
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
DID YOU NOT GET THE MEMO FROM KANSAS THAT SAID HUCKABEE GOT 60% OF THE VOTE COMPARED TO JOHN MCCAINS 24%
WE DO NOT WANT MCCAIN
WE WANT GOVERNOR HUCKABEE!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Dan Campbell | February 11, 2008 7:21 PM
This is stupid, They took the poll before Romney suspended his campain, and before Huckabee addressed them. Huckabee received multiple standing ovations and had to silence the support for him during his speech.
Posted by David Fisk | February 11, 2008 7:27 PM
Washington Times: If you were reporting with any degree of accuracy, you would have noted that the voting ended BEFORE Huckabee spoke on Saturday. If votes had been allowed after Huckabee spoke there is no doubt the poll results would have been different. People voted BEFORE they knew Romney dropped out (at that point he was the favorite of the establishment) and BEFORE they knew Huckabee was still going to be in the race. That skews the results considerably. Interesting that the day Huckabee spoke (Saturday) he TROUNCED McCain in Kansas where 60% went with Huckabee. The conservatives there seemed to like him just fine. Report the full story, Mr. Dinan - not just your paper's obvious bias against Huckabee.
Posted by Tina | February 11, 2008 8:32 PM
I'm afraid that too many in the republican party who call themselves "complete conservatives" are really only concerned with "conserving" two things - their personal wealth and safety. There used to be THREE legs to the conservative "stool" remember? The other was SOCIAL conservatism. If the self-proclaimed conservatives at CPAC placed anywhere NEAR equal value on this vital component of conservatism they would see Mike Huckabee as the truly GREAT candidate and leader that he is. Besides the great MORAL issues at stake in social conservative issues which SHOULD BE reason enough for us to place a high priority on them there are also safety and economic issues that are PROFOUDLY impacted by social issues. More Americans die as a result of crime, drugs, suicides, aids etc. than are EVER likely to die from terrorist attacks. How many of this country's WEALTH is spent combating these and a myriad of other problems that all stem from a breakdown of the FAMILY and a loss of respect for HUMAN LIFE?!
Posted by Michael Litz | February 11, 2008 8:40 PM
In fairness, it should be noted that the straw poll was closed before Gov. Huckabee had the opportunity to electrify the attendees. It is not surprising, considering one of the sponsors supports Sen. McCain. I would like to know how the young attendees think after hearing from the Gov., rather than hearing characterizations of him by others with a personal agenda.
Posted by David Cutchen | February 11, 2008 9:15 PM
bull! straw polls are meaningless! Huckabee is picking up loads of Romney supporters, after all, Huckabee is the true conservative. This article is hogwash and more of the same, getting old, spin. I can't believe you got paid to write this stuff. Where do I get a job like yours?
Posted by cons3rvative | February 11, 2008 9:26 PM
Yeah this poll was taken before Huckabee had spoken at CPAC and right after Romney withdrew, Romney's old supporters (the majority there because they are highly influenced by hannity and coulter) were still in shock. The point is this is a poor reflection of America. Check out Rasmussen Polls where Huck has risen 15 points in a matter of days.
He is far from wobbly.
Posted by James | February 11, 2008 10:21 PM
Apparently the voters in Louisiana, Kansas and Washington did not get your memo, Mr. Dinan.
Governor Huckabee:
The Little Political Engine That Could.
" He Took a Muckin' and Kept on Huckin' "
Posted by grassboots | February 12, 2008 2:09 AM
My former Romney vote is now going to Ron Paul, which is where it should have gone all along.
I donated a thousand bucks to Mitt Romney because he is absolutely the most capable of the Big 3 -- and I stand by that assessment -- but I do admit to having blinders on to the BEST candididate.
Ron Paul is not a kook. We are the kooks for refusing to listen to him. Just how totally RETARDED is that...?
Posted by Carol | February 12, 2008 11:44 AM
HUCK-A-BIGOT HUCK-A-BIGOT HUCK-A-BIGOT!
HUCK-A-BIGOT HUCK-A-BIGOT HUCK-A-BIGOT!
HUCK-A-BIGOT HUCK-A-BIGOT HUCK-A-BIGOT!
CONSERVATISIM WITH BIGOTRY IS A VICE REMEMBERED - EVEN IF THAT MEANS A VOTE FOR McCAIN
Posted by Offended | February 12, 2008 2:09 PM
Actually, I don't want McCain or Huckabee. McCain is far to liberal to be a conservative of anything. Huckabee would be someone who would mix church and state.
McCain has acted poorly having partnered with the most liberal of liberals such as Senator Fiengold, Senator Kennedy, and Senator Lieberman. Partnerships with these men are inexcusable to conservatives.
Huckabee is someone who wants to combine church with state. It is like taking the leader of a religion and making them the president. Oh ya, Mike Huckabee was the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was like the Pope for all Southen Baptists throughout the world. Governor Huckabee is quoted as saying that his religion defines him. What a scary thought!
I am at the point that this political contest is a lost cause for Republicans and Democrats alike. Whoever does win the presidency, America will deserve the most terrible disasters that it could ever have. Oh well! I guess it is time to plan for whatever disaster comes with my own family and hope for the best. But, I am not planning on relying on any presidential candidate to do the right things for the right reasons. It just is not going to happen over the next four years.
Posted by David | February 12, 2008 2:15 PM
Huckabee supporters tooting his 60% win in Kansas big deal, he only got 11,627 votes that was the 60%
looks like most voted democrat or stayed home in Kansas Romney still remains ahead of Huck in delegates and he isn't running.
The longer Huck stays in the more money he aquires from his followers the more money he get's to keep when he looses. he'll have enough money to start a TV preaching show, like Jim & Tammy Bakker.
Posted by Jean | February 12, 2008 2:38 PM
These pundits are broken hearted becuase Romney had to drop out. They violated rule #1: no whining. News flash, he will not win in 2012 either. Everyone knows McCain will lose to Obama, he should just drop out. How stupid does that sound? The fat lady might be singing to Huckabee, but it's not over till it's over. McCain does not have 1191 delegates yet and until he does, Huckabee can still win it. If Huckabee prevents McCain from getting to 1191, then it's anyone's game. They know it and that is the reason for the pressure on Huck to drop out.
Posted by Todd | February 13, 2008 5:13 PM
Looks like McCain is the Man. If I had to vote for McCain or Huckabee, I would rather choose Obama or Billary. I predict a landslide like the second term of Reagan, but this time it is going to be the Democrates.
Posted by marv | February 13, 2008 9:52 PM
I'm a conservative and I think Huckabee is an ass!
Posted by BillTurner | February 14, 2008 12:51 AM