Two of the candidates running for the Republican presidential nomination to take on Barack Obama in 2012 announced late last week that they will participate in the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando in September.
While former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the front-runner for the Republican nomination and the leader in polls at both the national level and those focused on Florida, has already announced that his campaign will not take part in the straw poll, other candidates are starting to see it as an opportunity.
On Thursday, former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, who entered the presidential race early last week, opened his campaign headquarters in Orlando. Huntsman, who has named several prominent Florida Republican political operatives to his campaign team, announced he intends to take part in the RPOFs straw poll.
I am excited to have Jon Huntsman participate in this years Presidency 5 straw poll and debate, said RPOF Chairman Dave Bitner on Thursday after the announcement. Being the most important swing state in the nation, Governor Huntsman understands the critical role Florida plays in presidential elections and will have the opportunity to bring his message directly to nearly 4,000 Republican activists this September. I look forward to seeing him along with all of the other presidential contenders in Orlando.
Businessman Herman Cain, a favorite of the tea party movement, spoke at the National Right-to-Life Committee (NRLC) annual convention in Jacksonville Friday. After his speech, Sunshine State News asked him if he is going to take part in the Presidency 5 straw poll. Cain said yes, he is planning to take part in the event.
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania also spoke at the NRLC event in Jacksonville Friday morning. Santorums camp said its team has not made a final decision on whether to participate in the Florida straw poll.
While the RPOF did not hold a straw poll at Presidency 4 back in 2007, the party has held three such polls before -- and the winner of each one went on to win the Republican presidential nomination. Ronald Reagan beat John Connelly and George H.W. Bush in 1979 and went on to win the GOP nomination and the White House the next year. Bush prevailed in the Presidency 2 straw poll held in 1987, beating evangelist Pat Robertson who was also running for the Republican nomination. In 1995, Bob Dole held off Texas U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm and Lamar Alexander, a former governor of Tennessee and U.S. secretary of education, to triumph in the Presidency 3 straw poll.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
