Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney won the straw poll at the CPAC conservative political action conference today, where more than 11,000 conservative and pro-life activists gathered to hear from top speakers.
After each of the GOP presidential candidates addressed the audience, Mitt Romney won the straw poll with the support of 38 percent of attendees, of which 3,408 voted according to the Washington Times — which co-sponsored the straw poll. Romney won the straw poll at CPAC from 2007-2009 when John McCain became the Republican standard bearer against Obama.
Rick Santorum, who has experienced a significant surge in support following election victories in three different states on Tuesday, received the support of 31 percent of conservatives. Newt Gingrich has the support of 15 percent and Ron Paul the support of 12 percent. The percent supporting Paul dropped significantly from his 31 percent in 2010 and 30 percent in 2011 and he may have been hurt by the fact that he did not address the conference.
The Times indicates Romney’s 38 percent was the highest percentage of the vote at CPAC since President George W. Bush won 42 percent of the vote in 2000 on the way to his first election victory later that year.
The straw poll also queried attendees on their choice for vice-president and found 34 percent support pro-life Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida while nationally he tied with pro-life New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 15 percent. The CPAC poll has Christie second and pro-life Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell third.
CPAC also conducted an Internet-based straw poll for people not attending the conference and found Romney leading that straw poll with Romney getting 27 percent, Santorum 25 percent, Gingrich 20 percent and Paul 8 percent. [related]
Looking further at the results, beating Obama in November was more important to conservatives than finding the most conservative presidential candidate possible.
Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates conducted by the straw poll and the national poll.
