Sat. GOP Straw Poll May Decide Primary
ORLANDO, Fla. (CBSMiami.com) – A crucial straw poll to be held Saturday in Central Florida could firmly entrench one of the 2012 GOP presidential candidates as the front-runner to face President Barack Obama next year.
The straw poll will be voted on by selected delegates from around the state. It's completely opposite of the Iowa straw poll where the general public can select the winner. In Iowa, it's more about organization and hosting the biggest events to win the straw poll.
In Florida, it's more about getting your message out to the delegates and securing the vote of the establishment more than the general public.
Plus, Florida's straw poll is the bellwether poll for the GOP. A total of three straw polls have been held in the state of Florida. The three winners, Ronald Reagan in 1979; George H.W. Bush in 1987; and Bob Dole in 1995 all went on to win the GOP nomination.
All of the candidates names will be on the straw poll ballot including: Mitt Romney; Texas Governor Rick Perry; Michele Bachmann; Jon Huntsman; Ron Paul; and Herman Cain, among others.
Perry had been polling as the leader in polls taken right after his announcement. However, as more of his policies have been revealed, he's pulled into a dead heat with Romney in many recent polls.
In head-to-head polling with the President, Romney is the only candidate who is tied or within 5 points of President Barack Obama.
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