Politics / Southern Republican Leadership Conference 9 Surprises From GOP Conference Among them: Little support for a Sarah Palin candidacy By John Johnson, Newser Staff Posted Apr 10, 2010 6:05 PM CDT Copied Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, speaks at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Saturday, April 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) With the Southern Republican Leadership Conference wrapped up, Mark Halperin rounds up nine surprises from New Orleans on his Time blog. A sampling: There was almost no mention of the Supreme Court fight. Attendees showed little enthusiasm for a Sarah Palin presidential run. Ron Paul's supporters were out in force. "(OK: not really a surprise.)" How frequently speakers used the word "radical" to describe President Obama. The "instant and intense cheers" when a speaker criticized the White House for mistreating Hamid Karzai. Read the full list here. (More Southern Republican Leadership Conference stories.) Report an error