No Presidential Straw poll

State GOP Chairman Jim Greer announced today that plans for the Presidency IV straw poll have been axed. But there will be a "live prime time presidential debate" on Fox (moderator not yet chosen) at the Oct. 20-21 conference at the Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.  "A celebration of Republican candidates,'' Greer called the event, which will still be called "Presidency IV" without the straw vote.

The party won't lose any money on its deposit with the Rosen Centre, which had been booked. The Mitt Romney folks already had been ramping up a straw poll campaign, which can cost millions, but Greer said the decision was not based on opposition from any particlar campaign.

--Steve Bousquet

Comments

good decision.

This is first of many losses for Mittsy in FLA.

[Abe Lincoln]

Chairman Greer,

Great decision, keep up the good work.

Abe Lincoln
Immedidate Past Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida

This is Romney's first WIN... the others were afraid to face him.

Crist puts John McCain ahead of his own state....it's a shame..

No big deal for Romney… or any of the candidates. This just saves all the campaigns money to be spent on getting real votes. The people who won’t like it are the rank and file Republicans who will now get very little attention from the Presidential candidates.

Here comes the spin from Romney as in 11:32-33.

Greer has his head so far up McCain's rear it's becoming comical.

Was there ever any doubt that Greer is in McCain's back pocket ?

This just delays Romney’s first victory in Florida by three months.

Weird decision by Greer. Why wouldn't he want the attention a straw poll brings?????

This was Charlie's decision not Greer's... Jim just put his name on it.

Well, now we know what Jim Greer thinks of all you hardworking Republican volunteers. Now you need to let him know what you think of him.

This is a huge win for McCain! Go McCain!

Straw Polls are a waste of time and money. Number, numbers, numbers... then a hefty bill... numbers, numbers, and more numbers that are meaningless.

I'll wait for the fat lady on election night, thank you very much...

I hope the media calls Crist out on this one. It is just one more bad call added to the many he has made.

Greer wouldn't do something like this without Crist telling him what to do. However, as a party chairman, you should what is best for your state party and this wasn't it.

Why?

As a McCain supporter, this was a big mistake. McCain should have wanted to compete and he could have won. Now the new Chairman and the Governor are going have a very unhappy State Republican Committee.

I think the McCain folks put the Governor and Chairman in a bad position. I understand the loyalty the Governor feels toward McCain, but they shouldn’t have taken advantage of that loyalty.

Monumental mistake by Charlie Crist.

the liberal press will let him off the hook as usual though.

The petulant rants of the Romney rookies aside, this is a brilliant move by Greer.

Florida has a major televised debate, gets all kind of exposure for the Charlie and Mel, exposes the candidates to the grassroots and money elite -- then we have a primary that actually makes us relevant in determining the next President.

How can you criticize that?

[It's warm rain not pee on your leg]

This is crazy we could have had every political eye in America watching us, made Florida a must. had millions spent in our state and re energized our party. Hello Jim Greer & Charlie Crist McCain isn't the one. We don't like the way he has been working against us for the last 10 years. He can lose in October or Feb. Its all the same. Republican activist want a straw poll.

Greer had to lie to the Republican Executive Committee to get elected. Any comments from the members of the Executive Board? Did any of them show some guts?

Moving the primary up is more important than a sham straw poll. If we are serious about Florida's place in the nominating universe, better to have the voting universe be all four million Republican registrants eligible than a narrowcast band of 3,000 elite.
Good job with the Fox debate, that guarantees candidate participation.

Carole Jean - go home and put those grapes in the fridge before they get any more sour!

Greer, you will make even Carole Jean look good. Gag.

Horrible decision on Charlie Crist's part.

Ask George LeMieux.

Who cares who wins - as long as it is not a Bush.

Impeach Greer

Give it up 12:15. CJJ isn't smart enough to post.

Why would the RPOF give up tons of revenue for the state party and all the national attention we would have received from candidates? Answer: To help their buddy John McCain. Incredible!

Now we know why Charlie wanted Greer so bad. He is nothing more than a low cost sacrifice.

Charlie must have the pictures on Greer now...

So Sally what are you going to do with all that staff. What a jerk. HaHa

Romney rookies? Mandy Clark....Sally Bradshaw...Marc Reichendelfer.....

This helps Rudy Giuliani as well McCain. Giuliani who has no presence on the ground but is leading in all polls. Now has the time to put a team in place.

Romney 1, McCain 0. Looks like the old man doesn't have much fight in him.

I can't believe Greer and Delmar made this decision. This just means one less Steak dinner and glitzy hotel room for the two of them.

[GOPFL]

It is funny that some think it was Crist's decision to axe the straw poll plan. Governor Crist isn't capable of making a decision. His decision making process revolves around polls. He merely polled the McCain campaign and then let Jim Greer announce the decision.

If Crist is going to support McCain so obviously, he should just announce it.

As someone who has not made up their mind on who to support yet, and who was leaning heavily toward Romney because I respect the people on his team, I have to say I'm reconsidering. The way the Romney folks are attacking CC and Greer and everyone else because they don't like the straw poll decision makes me really question their ability to run a quality race without resorting to childish whining every time they don't get their way. I'm still leaning toward you, but starting to really wonder.

1:12 = George Lemieux

1:13, no. I am seriously undecided. Keep my respect and you win my vote.

What is too keep an organization that is not the RPOF from sponsoring a straw poll?

the Romney folks are falling back into the anti-Crist routine.

it's not surprising since the Mitt insiders are the unskilled Gallagher people.

1:12... if you're a conservative, why are you leaning towards Romney. His conversion is a complete fraud...

well, undecided. the folks who are really being attacked here are the activists. they've been taken out of the equation altogether with the decision not to have a straw poll. too bad the chairman of their party didn't consider them.

what self-respecting Republican would vote for a tax-raising governor from Mass?

1:12 the folks who are really being attacked here are the activists. they've been taken out of the equation altogether with the decision not to have a straw poll. too bad the chairman of their party didn't consider them.

can you really hold the candidate accountable for the bloggers? there are some real nuts out there...

can you really hold the candidate accountable for the bloggers? there are some real nuts out there...

Greer has one term written all over him.

Charlie Crist is the People's* Governor!

*Republicans not included.

McCain / Crist '08!!!!!!

It has begun!

Romney has an impressive Florida team that will only continue to grow.Clearly McCain and Crist recognize that threat. Romney's team can just focus on the goal!

Vote of No Confidence for Greer is being organized as you read this...

I can hold the candidate accountable when it is obvious that his 'team' is actively attacking the Governor and Chairman. Yes, I can hold them accountable for trying to create anger within the party all so they can try and get some name ID. Yes, I can and I do. My hope is that they will run a clean, respectful race and EARN my vote, not play all these petty games. However, that will require some maturity from their staff.

Team Mittsy is having a bad Feb.

Here's how we stop the nonsense on this blog that is creating bad blood between candidates where none existed:

HIRE NO ONE UNDER 35

I don't know 1:28. How about a Republican who can't vote for a pro amnesty, anti tax cut Senator from Arizona, or a pro choice, anti 2nd Ammendment ex-mayor from New York.

What about thoses who are not hired guns?... just idiots.

It looks like you boys really do fear the little blonde girl.

Agreed 2:02, but make the requirement apply to IQ as well as age.

1:52 has never been or ever will be a Romney person and it's stupid to assume that people attacking Crist or Greer here are "Romney people". I have written 2 posts on here blasting Crist and Greer and I am not a Romney staffer.

I think all of you “staffers” need to get off the blogs and back to work. Earn you pay by doing something substantive, rather than politico BS.

Hey 2:02, how about hiring no one over the age of 50. Thaey have already ruined this state/country enough. McCain was just afraid of the straw poll because he lost the last one he was in to Bill Frist. McCain cannot win a primary becasue he has mainly democratic positions and he is way too old!!

2:18, you are wrong. I am leaning Romney because he has a very strong team of supporters who I respect. Most of them are people with much better things to do than blog all day, and I get that. However, there is a pattern becoming evident and that is for the Romney bloggers to attack Greer and/or Crist every time they get upset. I don't respect that and won't vote for someone who alows that kind of organized, repetitive activity. As I said before, I'm still leaning toward Romney, but becoming less and less sure of my pick.

It all a vast Mitt Romney conspiracy, this is nuts no cantidate can control people on blogs. If it bothers you dont come on the blogs.

Huckabee

yes that straw poll reall helped Frist didnt it?

2:57, if you believe the people blogging on here are all just random web-surfers throwing around their opinions, and not paid staff, you really are naive. There may be a few here and there, but most of these come from VERY high up in the candidates' Florida organizations. VERY high up.

We've all worked with these people before. We recognize their attitudes even in writing.

3:02 - start naming names if you're so sure of yourself.

I think all the McCain staffers should quit attacking people on the blogs just because they are telling the truth

I think the attacks on Crist/Greer are probably bitter Gallagher and Carol Jean supporters… NOT Romney Supporters. The McCain people are still trying to link Romney and Gallagher. It is not true, don’t buy the spin.

2:58PM - -Huckabee who?

If Bill Frist were running he would be beating McCain because we know he wouldn't die before his term was over

3:15 www.explorehuckabee.com

I have no confidence in Jim Greer.

Abraham Lincoln
Immediate Past Chairman of Charlie Crist's brain

3:48- Charlie Crist has a brain?

2:48 You are on "Time Out"!

[Abe Lincoln]

3:48 PM

Please do not post using my name, for the record once again I Abe Lincoln, Immedidate Past Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida do hereby stand behind Chairman Jim Greer and Governor Charlie Crist.

Thank you,

Abe Lincoln
Immedidate Past Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida

Abe, do us a favor and go to the blog equivalent of Ford's theater.

4:05 -

Did you ever take grammar in grade school ?

As a Romney supporter and more importantly a registered Florida Republican I must say that I like the idea of not having a Straw Poll, I would much rather move our primary up. A straw poll would be good as far as money spent in the state but an early primary REALLY makes Florida important and BOTH parties will have to pay attention to us. Much more money will be spent on an early primary than on a straw poll. Once again I say this more as a Republican than as a Romney supporter.

Sea_country@hotmail.com

4:18 – As a fellow Romney supporter… I agree.

They pay hacks to post on these blogs? Thats really sad. Now I dislike them even more.

How about we Republicans concentrate on beating Democrats instead of each other, huh?

And yo uthink we're going to have a pleasant primary? You're dreaming. There are cold-blooded attack dogs already on the "teams." It will be ruthless.

Notice how this blog heated up when the RPOF staff got back from lunch.

Something tells me Delmar isn't back from lunch yet.

The word is key grass roots organizers, important ones that can make things happen, worked behind the scenes to put the cobosh on the straw poll. Calls were made and e-mails sent. "Misallocation" of resources was their theme.

I am the real "Abe Lincoln" and I've come to take back my title from the imposter Republicans. Charlie is not a Republican. Greer is not a Republican. "Abe" is not a Republican. They are all conniving liberals obsessed with power. They care nothing about our state or conservative values. It's time for the conservatives to regain control of this great party of Lincoln. And conservatives have no confidence in Jim Greer.

Thanks,

Abraham Lincoln
Immediate Past Chairman of Charlie Crist's brain

I knew it came down to the Bible Bangers. Why don't they just form their own Hezbollah-Hate Party?

Run Falwell, Dobson or Haggard for President?

[Abe Lincoln]

5:00 pm (Fake Abe):

Please do not post under my name, Thank you.

P.S. History is a very important subject to study.

Respectfully submitted,

Abe Lincoln
Immediate Past Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. ==Albert Einstein

Abe Lincoln
678-528-5446

[Abe Lincoln]

5:00 pm (Fake Abe):

Please do not post under my name, thank you.

P.S. History is a very important subject to study.

Respectfully submitted,

Abe Lincoln
Immediate Past Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. ==Albert Einstein

Abe Lincoln
678-528-5446

Greer did a great job, he is really leading the RPOF, and with the Gov support he will go down as the best RPOF Chairman has ever had. Way to keep them guessing.Go Charlie and Jim

11:54
Thanks for checking in Jim Greer

Romney joined NRA in August.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/19/romney_joined_nra_in_august/

[Maverick]

6:42 am

When did Romney join the military? Did they issue him a M-16?