08 Presidential Candidates, Political Analysis

A few days ago, I posted an article on the Christian social conservative vote and mentioned Janet Folger as one of the voices speaking out on the candidates.  She recently conducted her own poll of GOP candidates and found the following:

1. Tancredo – 96 votes, 24.4 percent
2. Paul – 95 votes, 24.2 percent (not bad for someone who wasn't even listed)
3. Brownback – 70 votes, 17.8 percent
4. Hunter – 52 votes, 13.2 percent
5. Huckabee – 41 votes, 10.4 percent
6. Gingrich – 17 votes, 4.3 percent
7. Keyes – 5 votes, 1.3 percent
8. Thompson – 3 votes, 0.8 percent
9. Romney – 3 votes, 0.8 percent (see above)
10. Santorum – 2 votes, 0.5 percent

While not representative of the public in general, this poll shows the leaders among a particular constituency.  The only ones on this list garnering more than 1% in most polls and more than 1% here would be Brownback and Gingrich.  It is likely, therefore, that 1 of those 2 has the best chance of becoming the standard bearer for this constituency.  Surprising absences include potential Presidential hopeful Senator Hagel of Nebraska and to a lesser extent John McCain, who despite bucking the base on occasion, generally does vote with it.  Both receive lots of media attention and yet no love from this poll.  Hagel's similarity of beliefs and positions to Brownback make his absence particularly noteworthy in constrast with Brownback's 70 votes.  Perhaps this is due to Hagel not having declared himself a candidate.