Rep. Ron Paul wins CPAC straw poll
Washington (CNN) - The results of the Washington Times CPAC straw poll of presidential candidates are in, and the winner is Texas Rep. Ron Paul, with 30 percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was the runner-up with 23 percent.
There were 3,742 ballots cast in the annual survey, which is a chance for devotees to name their pick for president in 2012. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed said they were generally satisfied with the field of potential candidates and 43 percent said they wished the GOP had a better field of potential candidates. For those surveyed, the size of the federal government was the most important issue to them.
CPAC is an annual gathering of conservatives, which this year served as the first cattle-call of potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates.
The full results:
Texas Rep. Ron Paul: 30 percent
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: 23 percent
Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson: 6 percent
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: 6 percent
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: 5 percent
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: 4 percent
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann: 4 percent
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels: 4 percent
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: 3 percent
Former talk show host Herman Cain: 2 percent
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: 2 percent
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum: 2 percent
South Dakota Sen. John Thune: 2 percent
U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman: 1 percent
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour: 1 percent
Others: 5 percent
Undecided: 1 percent
Ron Paul comes in 10x higher than Palin. I guess the media and the machine can't pick who they want after all.
Ron Paul? With Mike Huckabee and Haley Barbour barely scoring? Apparently, Repubs really do eat their own. Well, at least Palin, Gingrich, and Bachmann are at the bottom of the list, too, so maybe there's some hope for the party after all.
Palins look ike did better than Paliin would have because she can't work a crowd unless she is scripted . and has control of any questions . so she is a looser that has lied her way into money . allot of stupid people out there . and John Boehner will cave to the new tea party elected group . the party of NO is about done . the only thing they can do is kiss Obama and try amd ask for forgiveness . should we let the republican off ? na make them own up forthe many years of lies and corruption..change has come to america . much like Egypt . we should learn from Egypt . we the people and support the only ptrsident that has given a crap in a long time ((((OBAMA ))) 2012 m and beyond
Well good to know that Sarah only had approximatly 113 of them votes! If I had to choose any of these contenders, Paul would be my choice too~
Winning the nomination is as far as any of those buffoons will get.
OBAMA 1012
What a sad group of regressive anti-social bigots. Sad, but typically Republican.
Most of these people like Paul are prepared to destroy this country in their attempt to save it on their terms!
They will throw the baby out with the bathwater to achieve political standing with their base.
They have absolutely -NO balance- in their plans. Just more extreme policy that we have seen from them before.
Great list of good old American wack jobs. Clearly, Obama has no worries. He could have a 10% approval rating right now and still win against the people Republicans have to put up.
Wonderful!
That will give Obama a second term.
I love Ron Paul, this is pretty exciting
SO what. He has not chance of winning the National election. Only a Huckabee/Palin ticket can take it. 2012
If Ron Paul is unelectable, why has he been re-elected to his 12th term in Congress?
hate all of them
At least Paul sounds most reliable among the bunch....
Looks like Sarah has some work to do. Maybe she should go Independent. That would be a riot.
I think Ron Paul would be a great president.. and I'm not even an American.
Well, he's a kook but a kook that probably truly believes and loves his country. Can we say the same about the other clowns? On the other hand, he did raise that Rand kid. Gotta shake your head on that one.
To dream the impossible dream...........
Haley Barbour got a full percent? That's suprising.
It is OK. The Republicans are not smart enough to let him win the primaries. He is too radical for the status quo. I have point out that he is the only candidate who can potentially win over Obama. Sadly, he is the only Republican who wants to shut down the Federal Reserve. The bankers are never going to let him win.
the best thing we could do for our country would be to elect ron paul president.
It will be very interesting to see what happens from here........I'm greatly looking forward to seeing who will take the opportunity to step up next and lead this great country. I was very surprised to Donald Trump even making a move for presidency.
proof why CPAC people are nuts...
Whatever. The Paultards are like the 4chan of politics. They will overwhelm these meaningless votes for teh lulz
Really, this is no surprise. Dr. Paul is clearly the best candidate for the citizenry. Now, just watch all the paid trolls come out and attempt to vilify him here in CNN's comments. Also, just watch the mainstream media either ignore him or vilify him as well, as they did in previous election years. Ron Paul is the people's candidate -not Washington's man, not the media's man, not big-business's man, not the elitist/globalist establishment's man. Every real American recognizes that Ron Paul's message is the American dream -nothing more, nothing less. Ron Paul is a staunch defender of individual liberties (civil rights) and therefore would truly be the greatest people's President of the United States since Andrew Jackson .