FOX News
Paul, a Republican congressman from Texas known for his libertarian views, ran for president in 2008 but was never a serious contender for the GOP nomination.
Romney, former Massachusetts governor and also a 2008 GOP candidate, has won the last three presidential straw polls at the annual conference. This year, he came in second, with 22 percent.
Sarah Palin, who didn’t attend the conference, was a distant third in the straw poll, with 7 percent, followed by Tim Pawlenty, the Minnesota governor, and Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana.
The straw poll is not binding — and not necessarily a good forecaster, given that in 2008, John McCain went on to take the party’s nomination over Romney.
Boos as Ron Paul wins CPAC straw poll
Politico
Paul’s victory renders a straw poll that was already lightly contested among the likely 2012 GOP hopefuls all but irrelevant as the 74-year-old Texan is unlikely to be a serious contender for his party’s nomination.
CPAC organizers were plainly embarrassed by the results, which could reduce the perceived impact of a contest that was once thought to offer a window into which White House hopefuls were favored by movement conservatives.
A spokesman for the conference rushed over to reporters following the announcement to make sure they had heard the unmistakable boos when the screen first showed Paul had won the straw poll.
2,935 votes were cast in the straw poll, the most in the history of the 37-year conference, but a fraction of the approximately 10,000 people who attended CPAC
Forty-eight percent of those who participated in the contest indicated that they were students and the divergent reaction to the results reflected the outcome.
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Wild Thing’s comment……….
According to Fox, about 10,000 present, but just 2400 voted.
Ron Paul is an isolationist, antisemitic, racist peacecreep. Ron Paul was booed when it was announced he won.
One good thing is this vote of theirs does not count in the real election, thank GOD!
Ann Coulter mentioned the place was full of college students, and now we know why.
Vote breakdown:
31% Ron Paul
22% Mitt Romney
7% Sarah Palin
6% Tim Pawlenty
5% Mike Pence
4% Newt Gingrich
4% Mike Huckabee
2% Mitch Daniels
2% Rick Santorum
2% John Thune
1% Haley Barbour
5% Other
6% Undecided
I wouldn’t put much faith in this straw poll. Even Huckabee got more than honorable mention but only a quarter of the particitants voted.
Huckabee’s ratings must be dropping like a rock, he has dipped into the cesspool for guests on his show, last night he had Michelle onumnuts on. For a “conservative” that is a real stretch, one might even say an act of desperation. Seeking counsel from the enemy.
I don’t know, something just doesn’t smell right with this poll. Some maybe voted twice? Just say’n….The Palin 7% seems awful low for a group that seems to love her….
It’s a prime example of why we need a large conservative turnout at the election polls.
Failing to do so allowed McCain to win the nomination. And failing to do so allowed someone even more left-wing than McCain to win the White House.
It doesn’t start with the general election. It doesn’t even start with the primaries. It has already started. All conservatives need to do is stay informed, and participate.
I agree Jan. My brother was a big fan of Ron Paul, I myself don’t like him in total, though I could agree on a few points.
Hi Mark and Huckleberry seemed to have a lot of praise for Mamabama. In a few minutes I will be posting a Mamabama song by Tim Wilson. You might get a laugh or two from it.
Ron Paul will always be irrelevant. He claims to be libertarian, but he is only just another sleazy Washington insider. He allowed the 9/11 “troofers” and the Alex Jones crowd to believe that he was one of their own so they would donate (much) money to his campaign. After the election cycle had ended he denounced the troofers, declaring that he was not a ‘troofer’ and never had been. I am more dishearted by the support for “Mitt Happens” Romney. He is a New England-style Progressive who installed a Demorat-like socialized medical plan in Mass. If Romney is nominated,Soetoro will be re-elected. C-PAC may be mad at Palin because she did not show up,but I am afraid that C-PAC , like Dr. Paul, is irrelevant these days and in the end Palin’s instincts might again be on the money.
The Democrats truly hope that this is a harbinger of the way the Republican Party is going, regarding their nominee for the 2012 Race.
Putting Ron Paul anywhere on the ticket would put Obama back in office, via a landslide, similar to the one that Reagan received.
If nothing else this poll shows how divided the Republican/Conservative people are. There are too many names up there, and this division of choices can only lead to defeat.
One of these cadidates needs to crank up their machine and get started on some serious campaigning.
I realize that it is still early, but if I am Sarah Palin, I would get to work right now in learning all that there is to know about Foreign Policy, among other things, and be prepared to speak on it in front of any audience.
I mention her beacuse I see her as the only person who will stand by what she says. She has a proven track record of doing so.
The others, Gingrich, Romney, Huckabee, and Paul have been out there and shown that they are not all that they say they are.
I agree 100% with Sean. Gingrich and the other long time Repub names have proven to me that they will abandon their “beliefs” and follow the political winds that serve them personally.
Ron Paul attracts too many loonies. He is a loony magnet.
No Paul, No Mitt, Hell no Gingrich, No Huckster, So Solly!!!!
Seems I read recently Ron Paul wants to disband the CIA. So then what? We wait for the wave to wash over us? CPAC seems to be die-hard republican in whatever form Michael Steele says.
Thank you everyone soooo much. I really appreciate it. This really shocked the heck out of me. I agree, they come out in droves for Sarah and where are the votes for her. weird.
Plus if 10,000 people were there then why did not few vote.
Don’t mean nothin