Romney Wins CPAC Presidential Poll
In the first strong indication of where conservative hearts lie for the 2012 presidential race, Mitt Romney won the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll on Saturday, earning the backing of 20 percent of the crowd. It was his former Massachusetts Governor’s third straight win and followed a well-received speech to the CPAC crowd just one day earlier.
The results of the CPAC Straw Poll provide a small, albeit interesting window into the affections and leanings of the conservative movement. Following Romney, the next largest vote recipients included, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal with 14 percent of the vote, Rep. Ron Paul with 13 percent and Gov. Sarah Palin with 13 percent.
For the Alaska Governor, the belle of the conservative movement in the ‘08 election, the results aren’t the best of news. Her non-appearance at CPAC, however, may have contributed to the tied-for-fourth-place finish. Moderate Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, earned one percent of the vote and was ridiculed by moderator Tony Fabrizio for being Barack Obama’s favorite Republican.
With roughly two years to go until formal campaigning begins on the Republican side of the aisle, the results of the CPAC poll are more a temperature of the conservative movement at this point in time than an indication of who will end up the presidential nominee. Nevertheless, Republicans don’t take these polls lightly. The results can provide a boost for a potential candidate or hurt the morale of another. Though the affect is never as strong as it seems.
In 2007, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney etched out a win over former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani by a margin of 21 percent to 17 percent. Sen. John McCain, who wound up winning the nomination, came in fifth with 12 percent of the vote. In 2008, Romney won again, narrowly beating John McCain, 35 percent to 34 percent, even though Romney had officially dropped out of the race a few days before the poll was released.
More than 1,700 people cast ballots in the 2009 CPAC poll, 57 percent of who were between the ages 18 and 25. Of the respondents, 95 percent said they disapproved of the job that President Obama was doing, only four percent approved. Meanwhile, 70 percent approved of the job Republicans in Congress were doing, 29 percent said they disapproved.
Here are the official results:
Mitt Romney - 20 percent
Bobby Jindal - 14 percent
Ron Paul -13 percent
Sarah Palin - 13 percent
Newt Gingrich -10 percent
Mike Huckabee - 7 percent
Mark Sanford - 4 percent
Rudy Guiliani - 3 percent
Tim Pawlenty - 2 percent
Charlie Crist - 1 percent
Undecided - 9 percent
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i like Jindal alot, i like Romney alot also. he is who i was pulling for in the election. the guy is a conservative and an economic guru. he would have us in a hell of alot better spot right than we find ourselves right now. is he the most conservative of our choices. thats a tough one to answer. all i know is that i would be proud to call him my President, which is more than i can say for that joker we have in the white house at the moment.
I started out last election backing Tom Tancredo. When he dropped - I turned to Duncan Hunter. Next favorite would be Sarah Palin.
These results - - yuk - - back to the same ole, same old.
Pixie
Romney is not a true Conservative, he talks the talk NOW but when he was Gov he played to the liberals and even signed an Assault Weapons Bill. I do not trust him one bit.
Look at his whole past record and how many flip flops he has done, he even Bashed Reagan during his run for Gov. That man will say and do what it takes to win but are his real principles conservative? His past actions are not even close.
I just can’t trust someone like that and have better hopes on Bobby or Sarah and even Huck or Ron Paul have better conservative records than Romney.
Don’t be fooled by the talk and watch how they have and are walking now.
AZRobert
Come on Ron Paul bombed once, he will bomb again.
We need new blood, Jindal or Palin
Mitt reminds of a used car salesman, Ron Paul is not a serious candidate. And, both these men are OLD. The left and the media will destroy these men against a 51 year old incumbent.
We need fresh, new conservatives and the left know Palin & Jindal are a sharpe contrast to obummer/biden. Scratch Joe too, he will resign before the next term anyway, Hildabeast moves up.
I know we need to decide our candidate early because the left will flood the GOP JUST TO INFLUENCE OUR NOMINATION PROCESS.
I AM CERTAIN THAT IS HOW WE GOT STUCK WITH McCAIN!
Its too early. They’ll be other horses at the gate come post time. Love CPAC, but this is more like SOS to me. We don’t need another Bob Dole campaign in 2012. We need a candidate that is a cross between Limbaugh and Mark Levin.
GO MIT GO
Tell me who would be better to handle the economic mess we are in than Romney?
For those of you looking for some ideal candidate the will match your interests and beliefs perfectly you need to quit looking for that guidance from any politician and look for it in the mirror.
I voted for Mitt last time and he quit. No thanks I’ll go with Bobby Jindal or Rush
I wouldn’t ever trust any Republican who can be elected to a state office in Massachusetts.
The Republican Party sure seems to be stuck on stupid.
Rush Limbaugh for president!
Booyah, In with Mitt, out with Rinos!
Will a Mormon get elected as president?
Ya never know. Perhaps. Seems as if many people hold that against him regardless if they like his policies.
The nation voted in Obambam so anything is possible.