(CNN) - The president of the Family Research Council characterized Rep. Ron Paul's weekend win in the Values Voter Summit straw poll as "an outlier."
Tony Perkins, who heads the social conservative group, said the Republican presidential candidate influenced the results by busing supporters to the event, proving his 37% support is not reflective of social conservative backing nationally.
"I think Ron Paul, when you look at everything is an outlier in this poll," Perkins said Monday on CNN's "American Morning." "You see Herman Cain finishing a strong second, followed by Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry. Those are more reflective I think of actually the other polls and what's happening in the social conservative community."
Paul, the longtime Texas congressman who is making his third bid for the White House, led the field of GOP candidates including former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain with 23%, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania with 16%, Texas Gov. Rick Perry with 8%, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota with 8%, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 4% and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 3%.
Thanks to strong support from his followers, Paul has come out on top in many of the most prominent GOP presidential nomination straw polls over the past two years. He won the Conservative Political Action Conference contest in 2010 and 2011 and the straw poll at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference earlier this year.
Perkins also connected the sentiments of the Occupy Wall Street movement with those of Paul supporters, over 700 of whom voted in Saturday's survey.
"We should not discount there's a lot of discontent with big ineffective government that's taking place in this country, and I think the Ron Paul campaign reflects that," Perkins said. "The message of his campaign is sending is something other campaigns have to listen to as well."
Romney won the straw poll during his last bid for the White House in 2008 and Perkins attributed his drop to decreased attention over values issues, despite articulating "those values this year" during his speech.
Also see:
Voters bid on the ties off candidates' necks
Ron Paul is the only GOP I can stomach.
And yet another article set out to dicount Ron Paul..
so wat your saying is he won because he had more supporters there??... Isnt that how it should work??? The mainstream media is becoming more and more and more ridiculous with this circus. Im sure perry has never bought votes or bused people in.. saying ron paul fixed the election is like saying we are at war to spread democracy.... Keep trying MSM keep trying for you will never stop an idea
Wouldn't that also mean then that the Iowa Straw poll was also fraudulent since the candidates PAID the people to vote for them? And Rick Scott here in Florida has robo-calls setup to tell people to give him favorable results when polled.
Tony Perkins needs to grow a brain (and a soul, seeing as the type of person he is) and realize that everything in politics – especially when it's the GOP – is phony and unreliable.
Dr. Ron Paul is the best candidate in the GOP. Selfless, ethical, and a genuinely dedicated public servant; a humble man who only wants what is for the better good of all. He personifies what Schopenhauer espoused: "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."
"Compassion is the basis of all morality."
It is funny that Tony Perkins who supposedly represents moral family values would discredit the only GOP contender (Ron Paul) who opposes illegal warfare, which lets admit, kills many innocent people (many of whom are children). Tony seems to be another "Wolf in Sheeps Clothing" leader who deceives his followers.
Just because Mitt Romney is one of the only "walking, talking, human beings" running in the republican party, aside
from that "crazy texan" Perry, doesn't mean we all have to vote for Mitt Romney. I for one, simply can't vote for Mitt
Romney. I just can't vote for him. I would rather vote for that "crazy texan" guy Rick Perry. None of the candidates are perfect but at least Perry knows how to run the state of Texas.
Ron Paul stands up against Israel that's why republicans are so scared of him, what an evil guy for exposing truth. Silly Ron, you are suppose to know your place, Israel is an untouchable subject. It has been decided for you, they are good for you, no further need to look at facts and reality.
How many wins does Dr Paul Sr have to have before either wing gets it?
BTW, Thank You Tony Perkins for confirming that Dr Paul Sr IS NOT one of your religious hate mongers...
Tony Perkins is one of the big reasons the GOP is a sham of a party anymore. Why do people listen to his Dominionist b.s.
Honestly, try the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." A real question is how many of those 600 single-day attendants were actually Ron Paul supporters? How many went to other candidates?
In ideal poll ... Ron Paul will WIN. Most think he is un-electable as the Media and Corporate does not like him.
Yes, Paul only won because he had so many supporters show up to vote for him. It's a strange concept, but that's how this whole election thing works.
Has there been a directive from above to always discredit Ron Paul? Why does CNN not give credit where credit is due?
Anybody that disagrees with a fundy is an outlier. Especially scientists.
Ron Paul is the real deal....unlike Mr. Perry...the phoney cowboy. When will the mass media get it's head on straight and start reporting on the real candidates instead of the ones who talk smack on camera to make headlines. Perry is where he is because the media put him in the spotlight....for saying stuff like "Ben Bernanke should be convicted of treason" (WTH?). He's clueless folks. CLUELESS!
What a shame, Mr. Perkins. Your guy didn't win your poll.
I watched the speeches at the values summit; Paul's was the best. Better than Cain.
He is the real conservative of the bunch. I was a life long Democrat; now a blue republican.
But my vote should still count; after all I to am an American.
I think Paul's Voters did the right thing. It is also their country and are truly inspired to save it.
The other candidates would be so lucky to have the deep, wide passionate support that Ron Paul has.
Who would think young voting for morals and taking personal responsibility.
Paul is good for the country his "do unto others" message knows no party lines.
Pray that people take the time to understand Ron Paul's message.
Ron Paul does not have to "bus" supporters in. It's a grass-roots movement driven by normal people who have had it with politics-as-normal DC. Mr. Perkins is either a liar or simply incompetent. Perhaps both.
Or maybe as most of us know- you have no voice in American politics. you are in the minority.
Why is it, one those rare occasions when someone else besides Mr. Paul wins a straw poll it is HUGE news, all over the news for days (Cain in FL and Michelle is Iowa), media can't STOP talking about it.
But when Mr. Paul wins, it's an anomaly, some excuse, and his win doesn't count or isn't important for some reasons.
BS
Ron Paul is the only republican I could vote for........if I was going to vote republican,not.
maybe the idiot doesnt want Ron Paul to win at all. also Ron Paul has a more loyal following and his message is more clearer than other candidates. I guess you Perkins is bought out also
Apparently Tony Perkins doesn't know the definition of "outlier."
If he won its not news and there is a problem with the system. If he loses its news and the system is just weeding out non tier canidates. Anyone else notice this is just like our system broken thinking.
This man is clueless as to what Ron Paul winning means. People want peace and prosperity. They want the only man capable of delivering it. Ron Paul !!!!!!!