SRLC: Straw Poll Politicking
ShareWe're less than two months away from the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Memphis, TN, a grand gathering of nearly every important GOP elected official, party staffer, activist, and donor in the South and Midwest.
Confirmed speakers include Sen. George Allen (R-VA), Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN), Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)and Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA). More to be announced.
We're doing the straw poll, which in past cycles has served as an important test of establishment strength, particularly in the South. It's just a guess, but we think this year's straw poll could change the dynamics of the invisible primary a bit differently. A dark horse who does well could get a boost in buzz and in early donor committments.
Even before there was an '08 straw poll at SRLC, supporters of MS Gov. Haley Barbour were looking to turn the contest into a Barbourian triumph, complete with "Good 'ol boy wins" spin. Barbourites (Barbouronians?) including his ex-campaign manager, Ward Baker, are trying to encourage as many MS GOPers to sign up as possible. (Only registered conference participants can vote in the straw poll.)
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that a poor showing Frist, a Republican of Tennessee, would be most unhelpful.
To that end, GOPers are salivating over with rumint that Frist's PAC budgeted $50K to transport GOPers from GOP-rich eastern TN to the straw poll in Memphis. (Frist's advisers wouldn't talk dollar figures.)
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