Republican Turmoil Following Florida Straw Poll

Across the United States, party members are turning out for non-binding but nevertheless influential ‘straw polls,’ designed to provide an indication of voting intent and overall levels of support for the various candidates seeking to challenge President Obama for the White House next year.
So far the only pattern that has emerged is one of chaos, with no single individual emerging to dominate the crowd, ensuring that Republican divisions continue unabated.
Reputations are being made, lost and recast on a weekly basis, as the would-be candidates crisscross America searching for the magic moment that will propel them to the nomination in 2012. Thus far voters have singularly failed to coalesce around any single candidate.
Last night’s big winner was Herman Cain, the Godfather Pizza king, in an indication of how bizarre this race threatens to become. He romped home with 37% of the vote, leaving second placed Rick Perry feeling stuffed crust with just 15%. Moderate Mormon, Mitt Romney managed a mere 14%, despite having been in the race as long as anyone can recall….
The biggest loser however appears to have been Michelle Bachmann who managed a pitiful 1.5%. That’s not a typo. The woman portrayed as the next Sarah Palin failed to register in a state that will be central to any Republican efforts to secure the White House. 
This is, of course, all window dressing until the voting begins in the new year, but such events have a big impact on the direction of funding at this stage.  Money follows success so failure at this stages is a harbinger of hard times ahead financially. It will be fascinating to see who is left standing when the polls open in Iowa and New Hampshire next year, and whether the lack of a leading candidate draws other candidates into the race… 

US Governmental Shutdown Looms Large Again

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JDB addressing Salzburg Global Seminar

September 25, 2011