Ron Paul, whats in the cards.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Ron Paul came in third in Iowa, Santorum came in second.

Ron Paul came in second in New Hampshire.

Thanks.

Yes he did.

[Darnell 8,478]

Thanks, Pooky! You Rock, and stuff.

[Ready to do it 101]

Actually, Ron Paul came in third in the public vote. However, he technically WON Iowa. Paul's training of his folks at the caucuses resulted in Santorum, Romney, and Paul each getting 6 delegates. These delegates are non-binding so at the Florida convention they can change. Now, how many of you really think any of the Ron Paul delegates are going to switch? Absolutely ZERO. Paul followers are behind him 100%. As for Romney or Santorum's non-binding six delegates... I could easily see them be swayed to give their delegates to Paul at the RNC in Florida this summer after the Paul frenzy we're going to see over the next few months. So in essence, while Paul did come in third in the public vote, he tied for 1st in delegates (which are non-binding) so by the time we get to June we just might see Paul won Iowa.

Ron Paul came in third in Iowa, Santorum came in second.

Ron Paul came in second in New Hampshire.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

The Hindenburg looked great at lift off too!

[luckytxn 2,263]

Actually, Ron Paul came in third in the public vote. However, he technically WON Iowa. Paul's training of his folks at the caucuses resulted in Santorum, Romney, and Paul each getting 6 delegates. These delegates are non-binding so at the Florida convention they can change. Now, how many of you really think any of the Ron Paul delegates are going to switch? Absolutely ZERO. Paul followers are behind him 100%. As for Romney or Santorum's non-binding six delegates... I could easily see them be swayed to give their delegates to Paul at the RNC in Florida this summer after the Paul frenzy we're going to see over the next few months. So in essence, while Paul did come in third in the public vote, he tied for 1st in delegates (which are non-binding) so by the time we get to June we just might see Paul won Iowa.

What Paul frenzy?

[luckytxn 2,263]

The evangelicals didn't even consider Ron Paul. This will mean a huge inflow of money to Santorum. The south GOP evangelical vote is big.

Christian conservatives reach 'strong consensus' for Santorum (UPDATE)

By Peggy Fikac, Austin Bureau

AUSTIN — Fueled by prayer and passionate speeches, Christian conservative leaders meeting in Gov. Rick Perry's home state reached a "strong consensus" to support former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum for the GOP presidential nomination, the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins said Saturday.

Perkins, speaking for the group of about 150 people from around the country who met in the Brenham area Friday and Saturday, said the group was driven by the desire to replace President Barack Obama.

Their focus was "who they felt best represented the conservative movement and who they believed had the best chance of succeeding," Perkins said in a conference call with reporters.

The key issues for those attending, he said, were repeal of the federal health care law; addressing the national debt and deficit; and "pro-life" and family issues.

Perkins said while "it's not news" that GOP front-runner Mitt Romney lacks strong conservative support, "this was not a 'Bash Mitt Romney' weekend." He also said the Mormon religion of the former Massachusetts governor wasn't an issue at the meeting.

Participants prayed, and there were "passionate speeches" on behalf of various candidates, Perkins said. He said each campaign with the exception of Jon Huntsman's had a surrogate there to speak.

Consensus emerged on Santorum after three rounds of balloting, Perkins said. He said the final ballot came down to Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, with Perry eliminated after the first ballot. With 114 people voting on the final ballot, Santorum got 89 votes and Gingrich got 25.

The group did not ask either Gingrich or Perry to drop out.

The conservatives' backing should mean public endorsements, fundraising support and work by political activists for Santorum, Perkins said. He said, however, that some who previously supported another candidate may continue to do so. He brushed aside the idea that the endorsement is coming too late, saying with the South Carolina primary vote looming, "this could be exactly the right time."

The conservatives' decision actually could help Romney, said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

"This may boost Santorum some, but probably it also helps Romney by dividing conservatives further," Sabato said. "Perry is the big loser here. He….. needed the boost the evangelical conservatives could have provided. I suspect he'll be back full time in Austin before too long."

Perry, who met with many of the conservative leaders in August at backer Jim Leininger's Fredericksburg-area ranch, "fits the bill" for those at the meeting as far as his record and platform, Perkins said.But his missteps ended up being too troublesome.

"There was some concern because of the….. stumbles that he had getting into the race, that those were just going to be too hard to overcome," Perkins said.

It was another blow for Perry's campaign, which has sustained many since he got into the race rating high in the polls, then plummeted after missteps on the campaign trail, including poor debate performances.

Perry was particularly damaged when, at a Michigan debate, he could recall only two of three federal departments he wants to abolish, finally giving up with an "oops."

After doing poorly in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, Perry is campaigning hard in South Carolina but is still trailing in the polls.

Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan, said, "Rick Perry is the most successful and consistent social, fiscal and tea party conservative in the race for the White House. He is taking that conservative record and message to the voters of South Carolina and is confident they will make the right decision."

The meeting was organized in an effort to avoid a repeat of 2008, when Christian conservatives didn't coalesce around a candidate and U.S. Sen. John McCain was nominated by Republicans and lost, Perkins said.

David Woodard, GOP consultant and professor of political science at Clemson University in South Carolina, said the conservatives' backing "will provide a substantial help to Santorum."

But Scott E. Buchanan, associate professor and executive director of The Citadel Symposium on Southern Politics in Charleston, said, "It may help boost Santorum a bit in South Carolina, but I don't anticipate that this hurts Romney."

The meeting was organized by leaders including Perkins; James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family; former presidential candidate Gary Bauer; and Don Wildmon, of the American Family Association.

The group met at the Brenham-area ranch of former state appeals court judge Paul Pressler, a leader in the Southern Baptist fundamentalist movement.

Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, who attended the meeting, said, "We spent a lot of time on our knees in prayer, asking for wisdom and guidance."

"I still believe Rick Perry would make a great president, and so I am still supporting Governor Perry. But if for some reason he is not able to be successful, the group has spoken clearly about where the Christian community would stand," Patrick said.

Edited January 15, 2012 by luckytxn

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Actually, Ron Paul came in third in the public vote. However, he technically WON Iowa. Paul's training of his folks at the caucuses resulted in Santorum, Romney, and Paul each getting 6 delegates. These delegates are non-binding so at the Florida convention they can change. Now, how many of you really think any of the Ron Paul delegates are going to switch? Absolutely ZERO. Paul followers are behind him 100%. As for Romney or Santorum's non-binding six delegates... I could easily see them be swayed to give their delegates to Paul at the RNC in Florida this summer after the Paul frenzy we're going to see over the next few months. So in essence, while Paul did come in third in the public vote, he tied for 1st in delegates (which are non-binding) so by the time we get to June we just might see Paul won Iowa.

We've got a live one!