Weigel

Mike Pence Wins Values Voters Presidential Straw Poll

Rep. Mike Pence won the 2010 Values Voters Summit presidential straw poll, a bit of an upset over past winner Mike Huckabee. The former governor of Arkansas, who opened the conference with a Friday morning speech, came in second place with 22 percent. Last year, Huckabee won the poll with 28 percent of the vote, with Mitt Romney coming in second at 12.4 percent.

Insofar as this cattle call of 723 social conservative activists matters, I think it represents that Pence’s aggressive media strategy – go and look for a day of cable news without him – is paying off, and a rip-roaring speech here gave him a boost. It also represents an opinion I heard from a number of people here – that while Huckabee’s a hometown hero, there’s doubt that he’d quit a burgeoning TV career to run for president.

The also-rans, in order: Mitt Romney with 13 percent, Newt Gingrich with 10 percent, and Sarah Palin with 7 percent. And the rest of the candidates, in a lengthy poll that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann asked to be removed from:

Rick Santorum - 5 percent
Sen. Jim DeMint - 5 percent
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal - 2 percent
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels - 2 percent
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie - 2 percent
Sen. John Thune - 2 percent
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell - 1 percent
Marco Rubio - 1 percent
Rep. Paul Ryan - 1 percent
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour - 1 percent
Rep. Ron Paul - 1 percent
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer - 0.1 percent (1 vote)

“Undecided” was also an option, scoring 12 votes, or 2 percent.

The ballot also included a vice presidential question, which Pence also won, with Palin coming in second.

“What a dream ticket,” said FRC president Tony Perkins. “Mike Pence and Sarah Palin! That would give liberals heartburn.”