Texas governor Rick Perry, who announced Saturday his intentions to run for President of the United States, was selected Saturday as the favorite in a Alabama GOP straw poll. (source RickPerry.org)BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -
Texas Governor Rick Perry, who announced Saturday his intention to run for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, was selected the winner of a presidential preference straw poll held Saturday by the Alabama Republican Party.
The party, in a statement Saturday to FOX6 News, said 46 percent of the state GOP executive committee picked Perry as a write-in candidate during their meeting at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
"Let me be clear that this is not an endorsement by the Alabama Republican Party," said Bill Armistead, Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, in the statement. "We were interested to see how the current field stands with Republican voters in Alabama. We are thankful for all of the candidates who participated by submitting videos and campaign materials for us to review."
Businessman Herman Cain received 21% and former Governor Mitt Romney received 16% of the vote. All declared candidates who had received at least 2% in three national polls were included. Listed on the ballot were Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. The only names receiving write-in votes were Rick Perry and Sarah Palin.
Perry was in Birmingham Friday night and spoke to Republicans.
"The entire weekend was a rousing success. We had 1,500 activists at our Annual Summer Dinner on Friday night to hear Texas Governor Rick Perry," continued Armistead. "Governor Perry gave a stirring, conservative speech that obviously resonated very well with the attendees."
South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint spoke Saturday at the state GOP Executive Committee luncheon.
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