# CPAC straw poll results **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 9, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284 "2014-03-09T19:02:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/1 "2014-03-09T19:02:49Z")
I read this on another site, posted in a generally conservative forum. CPAC results: 31% Rand Paul, Senator from Kentucky 11% Ted Cruz, Senator from Texas 9% Dr. Ben Carson 7% Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin 7% Rick Santorum, Former Senator from Pennsylvania 3% Rick Perry, Governor of Texas 3% Paul Ryan, Congressman from Wisconsin 2% Condoleeza Rice, Former Secretary of State 2% Mike Huckabee, Former Governor of Arkansas 2% Sarah Palin, Former Governor of Alaska So, who from this list will rise to the top? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/2 "2014-03-09T20:26:33Z")
No one on that list has a chance at becoming POTUS. No one. ETA: If the Democratic nominee was Satan himself, none of those GOP candidates would have a chance of becoming POTUS. Just thought maybe that needed clarification. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/3 "2014-03-09T20:38:34Z")
Where’s Christie? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/4 "2014-03-09T20:42:56Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No one on that list has a chance at becoming POTUS. No one. > > ETA: If the Democratic nominee was Satan himself, none of those GOP candidates would have a chance of becoming POTUS. Just thought maybe that needed clarification. Exactly. That list will essentially hand the POTUS to Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/5 "2014-03-09T22:00:25Z")
No vote when Dr Carson comes in #3 can be taken seriously. Really, the obsession with straw poll results is merely a sign of lazy media. It’s meaningless, they KNOW it’s meaningless and they print it anyway. Damn shame, what’s happened to that journalism. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/6 "2014-03-10T02:09:52Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Where’s Christie? Came in 4th after Carson, with 8%. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/7 "2014-03-10T02:25:12Z")
Sorry for missing Governor Christie with 9% It was my mistake ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/8 "2014-03-10T02:32:42Z")
The last three winners two years before an open primary season were Ron Paul, George Allen, and Steve Forbes. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/9 "2014-03-10T03:10:04Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Where’s Christie? Stuck in traffic. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/10 "2014-03-10T03:16:25Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Stuck in traffic. or moving orange traffic cones. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/11 "2014-03-10T04:04:24Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Stuck in traffic. Well played. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/12 "2014-03-10T04:34:59Z")
Either Christie is seen as a RINO or the scandals are more seriously looked at by the conservatives. Because the last time Mitt Romney won it, I think what at least that new list shows that the Republican Leadership that is trying to keep them a little bit moderate really has a big problem in their hands and a lot of effort and money will have to be applied if they do want to become more appealing to the independents, the young and the minorities. Good luck with that, I’ll pass the popcorn and wait for the fireworks and the waste that is coming from the Republican inter fighting. As \*\*Zoid \*\*said, that list will essentially hand the POTUS to Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/13 "2014-03-10T06:08:24Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Stuck in traffic. Fuck it, have an upvote. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/14 "2014-03-10T06:10:07Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > No vote when Dr Carson comes in #3 can be taken seriously. > > Really, the obsession with straw poll results is merely a sign of lazy media. It’s meaningless, they KNOW it’s meaningless and they print it anyway. Damn shame, what’s happened to that journalism. Eh, its a mildly interesting measure of where the Conservative Id is at, even if its predictive value over who will win the actual nomination is pretty low. (interesting Rubio is doing worse then Cristie for example). ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/15 "2014-03-10T06:22:16Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Really, the obsession with straw poll results is merely a sign of lazy media. It’s meaningless, they KNOW it’s meaningless and they print it anyway. Damn shame, what’s happened to that journalism. It isn’t exactly meaningless, in that the CPAC poll isn’t meant to foretell the GOP nominee–good journalists address that point when they report on it. Rather, the poll is a demonstration for the base. (Or what **Simplicio** slipped in while I was typing.) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/16 "2014-03-10T06:40:28Z")
We need that guy to come in now, and tell us how this is totally excellent news for the Republican Party, a harbinger of certain and crushing victory to come. That guy, what’s-his-face… ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/17 "2014-03-10T07:05:03Z")
The crackpots at WND give somewhat different figures: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. (29 percent) Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas (17 percent) Dr. Ben Carson (10 percent) Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. (10 percent) Gov. Chris Christie, N.J. (10 percent) Gov. Scott Walker, Wisc. (7 percent) Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc. (2 percent) Former Gov. Jeb Bush, Fla. (2 percent) Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. (2 percent) Gov. Mike Pence, Ind. (1 percent) Viguerie noted that former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal did not receive enough votes to remain on the leader board. Viguerie is the junk mail king: it wouldn’t surprise me if he did some manipulation on his own. Note that his figures sum up to 90%, while the OP’s figures some up to 77%. > **[And the CPAC straw-poll winner is ...](https://www.wnd.com/2014/03/cpac-straw-poll-winner-announced/)** > > NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The attendees of the Conservative Political Action Conference have selected their straw poll winner for presidential candidate in 2016, and once again, establishment candidates took a backseat to those figures conservatives... ETA: Invisible primary : [Here’s Who the Money Men Are Backing So Far in the Republican Field – Mother Jones](http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2014/02/heres-who-money-men-are-backing-so-far-republican-field) Jeb Bush Scott Walker Paul Ryan Together they total up to 11% in this straw poll. Snort. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/18 "2014-03-10T07:29:55Z")
What we’ve learned from this is that 31% of the 21% of the Republicans who make up the ‘base’ prefer Rand Paul. But CPAC itself is a a subset of the ‘base’, so the overall number is probably even lower. You’d have made a ton of money over the years if you just bet that the winner of the CPAC poll would not be the Republican nominee. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/19 "2014-03-10T08:55:24Z")
Please, Republican primary voters. PLEASE nominate Rand Paul in 2016, so that he has the opportunity to make sure the entire world knows his beliefs and what he stands for. You can make it my birthday AND Christmas present. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284/20 "2014-03-10T11:26:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Please, Republican primary voters. > > PLEASE nominate Rand Paul in 2016, so that he has the opportunity to make sure the entire world knows his beliefs and what he stands for. > > You can make it my birthday AND Christmas present. Be careful what you wish for. Suppose Rand Paul is nominated and a serious scandal about the Democratic nominee breaks about a week before the election, resulting in Paul actually winning. Because of possibilities like this, a safer strategy would be to root for a nominee that you could tolerate should he win it all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpac-straw-poll-results/683284.md?page=2)