The New Jersey governor wins a 2012 straw poll in Richmond:
Attendees of the inaugural Virginia Tea Party Patriots Convention selected New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as their number one choice for President in 2012 by a narrow margin in one of the first presidential straw polls of the 2012 campaign, giving Gov. Christie early recognition in a potentially crowded field of candidates. A total of 1,560 individuals cast ballots in the straw poll that was conducted here Oct. 8-9.
Former Alaska Governor and GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin came in second, and Congressman Ron Paul was third in the unofficial poll, the first Tea Party straw poll ever conducted and an early indicator of preference for individuals affiliated with Tea Party organizations. Rounding out the top five were former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and U.S. Senator Jim DeMint. . . . The 116 write in votes were split between a number of candidates, including businessman Herman Cain, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia Bob McDonnell, former Senator George Allen, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Rep. Paul Ryan.