John Willke, founder and former president of the National Right to Life Committee. Romney’s campaign distributed a news release announcing he had been endorsed by Dr. His campaign handed out fliers saying “Do Not Compromise Your Values,” with “Your” crossed out and replaced by “God.”

sharp.Īfter speaking to the crowd on Saturday morning, Huckabee held both an availability with bloggers and a news conference. The poll is being widely watched as a barometer of the preferences of social conservatives, an electorally potent group whose leaders have not settled on a candidate.Īttendees who filled out the straw poll on-site were given colorful “I Values Voted” stickers. Voters had to be in line by 1 p.m., so the results could be announced at 3 p.m. Here’s something important to remember about the poll: The results reflect not just the 2,000-plus attendees at the three-day conference, but also anyone who went online and contributed as little as $1 to join FRC Action, the legislative action arm of the Family Research Council.Īll the Republican presidential candidates spoke to the conference, including Romney Friday and Giuliani Saturday morning. The results, released with a literal drumroll:įormer New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who leads in national polls, did not finish in the top four, and no further results were announced to the crowd.Īnnouncing the results, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said the top four issues picked by voters were 1) abortion 2) marriage 3) tax cuts and 4) permanent tax relief for families. Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist minister who received the most enthusiastic reception of any of the speakers at the council's Values Voter Summit at a Washington hotel. Mitt Romney increased his already growing credibility with evangelical Christians on Saturday afternoon with a surprise win in the Family Research Council’s “2008 American Values Straw Poll.” Romney takes Values Voters Straw Poll, Huckabee close secondįormer Massachusetts Gov.

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