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Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann are seen in a composite photo before the GOP presidential debate sponsored by CNN on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at the Venetian.
By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 | 11:08 a.m.
Sun coverage
In the GOP, Nevada is thought of as Romney country.
But in a straw poll conducted at this week’s Western Republican Leadership Conference in Las Vegas, national frontrunner Herman Cain bested Mitt Romney.
Though it took place in Nevada, the Citizen Outreach straw poll isn’t particularly representative of the local electorate. The approximately 500 ballots cast came from conference attendees who mainly represented Western states including Hawaii, but a few came from as far east as Florida.
Cain came in with 30.8 percent of the vote, while Romney pulled in 29 percent of the ballots cast.
Newt Gingrich came in third with 20.3 percent of the vote.
The rest of the candidates ranked in the single-digit percentages: Ron Paul, who came in second in Nevada’s 2008 caucuses, attracted the votes of 9.8 percent of the straw poll’s participants, and Rick Perry, who has Nevada governor Brian Sandoval’s endorsement, only pulled 3.6 percent.
“Undecided” and former Misssissippi governor Haley Barbour — a write-in — both pulled more support from the straw poll than Rick Santorum or Michele Bachmann, both of whom got 1.1 percent of the total vote.
Jon Huntsman, who boycotted last week’s debate to protest Nevada’s January caucus date — which looks like it’ll be changed back to February this weekend — tied with “none of the above” with 0.36 percent.
Polling began the day after the Republican presidential candidates faced off in a debate at the Venetian and concluded Friday.
Well Mitt Romney does not participate in straw polls...so the fact that he was only one percent behind Cain is still sayin somethin!
Mitt Romney is more of the same.
Cain has workable ideas.
Ha. Does it really matter any more? The Nevada GOP just conceded Nevada to President Obama! And the GOP candidates themselves have shown their dislike of us with their desire of MORE home foreclosures, pursuit of fossil fuel industry bailouts over investment in clean energy jobs, demand to cut Medicare & Social Security, and so much more.
Oh, and I find it especially pathetic that neither the "favored one" of the bulk of the Nevada GOP establishment (Romney) nor Brian Sandoval's new BFF (Perry) could win this straw poll. Herman Cain... Seriously?
The 'Flavor Of The Week'...
or is it weak?
Seems like both.
Herman Cain???
NO SHOT. Zip. Nada.
Right now, Mittens Romney is the only 'viable' candidate for the Repub's, and I do not believe he can beat the Prez.
Ron Paul has a real plan to eliminate the abusive TSA and other useless agencies. Herman Cain, a proven liar at the debates, is an ex-Fed Chair, he'll never eliminate the Fed (and his 9%+9%+9% plan = 27% tax rate as bad as Libs). Mitt equates corporations to people, killing his general election chances. Ron Paul is the only candidate that will end all the wars. Both Republicans and Democrats support endless Wars for Israel, it all started nearly a decade ago under a false flag attack.
9/11 and Israel, here: http://www.amazon.com/America-Deceived-I...
Romney is not likeable. Flip flopping, and pushing his goverment healthcare while hiring illegal immigrants. Who can trust Romney?
Every time one of these idiots who claims to be a contender to knock off Obama opens thier mouth it becomes apparent Obama wins again. The only nit wit missing is Angle followed by Lowden. Things have gotten so bad with the Nevada GOP this ill spoken,girl child,Tarkanian is now the leader of this group of fools.