Romney Wins CPAC Poll, Palin Tied For Third

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-third-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

Comments

[aicwebmaster]

03:38 PM on 03/30/2009

Let me get this straight:

Mitt Romney - 20 percent (Believes in magic underwear)
Bobby Jindal - 14 percent (Rejects his Indian roots)
Ron Paul -13 percent (100+ years old)
Sarah Palin - 13 percent (An IDIOT)
Newt Gingrich -10 percent (A liar and disgraced corrupt politician)
Mike Huckabee - 7 percent (Almost makes Sarah Palin look sane)
Mark Sanford - 4 percent (A doofus who may not be the gov much longer)
Rudy Guiliani - 3 percent (A noun, a verb and 9/11)
Tim Pawlenty - 2 percent (A serious politician)
Charlie Crist - 1 percent (Someone even a progressive like me can vote for)

So the only two propsects who any sane person would actually think about voting for pull just 3%!
I love republicans, they are making it so easy!!!

[just4shiggles]

07:28 PM on 03/03/2009

The republicans are living in their own little world aren't they. What a scary place that must be! I can't feel sorry for them because they have been trying to ruin our country and darn nearly did! Thank God for Obama!!!!!!

[ParallaxView]

03:54 PM on 03/02/2009

That's weird. I can't appear to get this comment through. I will try again.

What everyone needs to know about Mitt Romney if in case he runs for President again.

http://www.mrm.org/topics/miscellaneous/black-skin-and-seed-cain

"were more valiant than others…Those who were less valiant in pre-existence and who thereby had certain spiritual restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are known to us as the n3gr03s [changed in case this word was what was blocking my comment]. Such spirits are sent to earth through the lineage of Cain, the mark put upon him for his rebellion against God and his murder of Abel being a black skin...The present status of the n3gr0 rests purely and simply on the foundation of pre-existence" (Mormon Doctrine, p.527, 1966 ed.).

http://transfigurism.org/community/blogs/lincoln_cannon/archive/2008/08/08/4733.aspx

"I am sometimes disturbed by the observation that our religious tradition, Mormonism, is not unified in faith that we can and should become God."

[CabaretArtist]

12:10 PM on 03/02/2009

I wonder who was the 1% for Crist and why haven't they been interviewed?

[FlamingLibrul]

11:15 AM on 03/02/2009

Brilliant move, repugs. The voters just rejected an out-of-touch, ridiculously wealthy, Old White Guy who couldn't begin to relate with the "Common folk." Your solution for next time? Presenting another out-of-touch, ridiculously wealthy, Old White Guy. Romney is something special though- he comes with unique underwear, and has several mansions, one of which his family refers to as "The Cabin." Now if that isn't relatable to those of us who shop at TJ-Maxx... I see 8 years of President Obama. Yippee!

[PAposter]

11:10 AM on 03/02/2009

Romney's only on top because he has great presence and sounds brilliant compared to Jindal and Palin. If I had to choose, as a Democrat, it would be Ron Paul or Charlie Crist. Having said that, whomever runs against Obama in 2012 will have wasted a lot of time and money. And quite frankly, I hope President Obama is highly successful, and there is another brilliant Democrat being groomed for 2016.

[HoracePManure]

10:59 AM on 03/02/2009

I can't wait to see the GOP attempt to sell a mormon to the base, or an East Indian - then attempt to make Obama look 'strange' or 'different'.

Good luck.

[Progress08]

10:17 AM on 03/02/2009

YES!!! Drive Charley Crist further from your "base" (20% of Republicans who are craziest). It's all more middle for us on the left. Not that it would matter to the older generations, but if Eisenhower were alive today he'd be a Democrat.

[imfedup]

09:41 AM on 03/02/2009

Their motto: "LET THEM EAT CAKE.'

[filo]

09:13 AM on 03/02/2009

Sarah WHO ??

[Wiserone]

09:08 AM on 03/02/2009

Wondering if anyone can explain this to me. Every now and then I read the Drudge Report, I clicked on an article about the Prime Minister of England. As I clicked on the task bar arrow to go back to the Drudge page a picture of Palin came up on my screen, quickly, as as quickly it was gone and I was then brought back to the Drudge page. And, there was nothing on the page I was reading about the Prime Minister about Palin nor did I have anything up and running on my computer about Palin. I'm just wondering if the Drudge Report are using subliminal imagery?

[OhioObamaVoter]

07:29 AM on 03/02/2009

This is one pitiful bunch! Of course Romney is on top.

[scjk67]

05:03 AM on 03/02/2009

believe me Mitt is not going to win any southern voters, baptist hates mormons with passion. he'll win the primaries in 2012 in Iowa and Utah maybe few other states???

[jesuslovesObama]

02:49 AM on 03/02/2009

I remember Mitt's concession speech to McCain. It was literally nausea-inducing.

[jesuslovesObama]

02:42 AM on 03/02/2009

The fact that Jindal beat Palin after his disastrous response to Obama last week speaks volumes about her fading popularity.

[OhioObamaVoter]

07:30 AM on 03/02/2009

That's funny.