The Southern Republican Leadership Conference – a quadrennial grand old party that serves as a bakeoff for potential presidential hopefuls – wrapped up Saturday night with its traditional straw poll.

And the 2010 winner is . . .

H-e-double-hockey-sticks!  Mitt Romney! By one (!) vote!

Official results:

Newt Gingrich    18%
Mike Huckabee  4%
Gary Johnson    1%
Sarah Palin       18%
Ron Paul           24% (438 votes)
Tim Pawlenty   3%
Mike Pence      3%
Mitt Romney    24% (439 votes)
Rick Santorum    2%

Romney’s second-place finish in 2006 made him a GOPlayer in the 2008 race, and this performance makes him a GOPlayist.

As for Sarahcuda, say hello to the Newt Gingrich (18%) wing of the Republican Party.