PRESS RELEASE from American Conservative Union

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2013
Contact: Laura Keehner Rigas
 
ACU ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF THE WASHINGTON TIMES-CPAC 2013 STRAW POLL

America’s Future: The Next Generation of Conservatives
 New Challenges Timeless Principles

  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC 2013) concluded with Senator Rand Paul winning the CPAC Straw Poll. The Straw Poll was sponsored by The Washington Times and conducted by Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates.
 
Today’s 40th Annual National CPAC was a high-energy three-day conference bracketed by dynamic remarks by top regional and national conservative leaders.

In first place, Rand Paul secured 25% percent of the vote by registered CPAC attendees, followed by Senator Marco Rubio at 23% percent.  Former Senator Rick Santorum received 8% percent of the vote, closely followed by Governor Chris Christie with 7% percent and Representative Paul Ryan with 6% percent.

A total of over 60 names were either listed or written in.  The top two names received nearly 50% of the vote.

We convened thousands of energized conservatives today at this 40th Annual National CPAC 2013 from across the entire country,” said ACU Chairman Al Cardenas. “It’s been a long-standing and fun tradition at CPAC National as well as our regional CPACs to poll the attendees and get their opinion on a number of important issues.”

The Washington Times is honored to partner with CPAC to measure the pulse of conservatives at this key moment in the movement,” said Larry Beasley, President and CEO of The Washington Times

The Washington Times-CPAC 2013 Straw Poll results help benchmark how conservatives perceive key issues and their preferred candidates heading into the next election.

Every year, the ACU brings thousands of grassroots conservatives and conservative leaders together in Washington, D.C., and now in regional conferences comprising blockbuster speeches, policy discussions and networking opportunities – all celebrating the shared principles of smaller government, a strong national defense and traditional values.  The next CPAC event will be March 6-8, 2014. 

To view the final results of the poll, click here.

The American Conservative Union is America’s oldest and largest grassroots conservative organization and was founded in 1964. The ACU has hosted CPAC in the Nation’s Capital since 1974.  To learn more about the Conservative Political Action Conferences, please visit conservative.org/.

Founded in 1964, the American Conservative Union (ACU) is the oldest and largest grassroots conservative organization in the nation. For almost fifty years, ACU has served as an umbrella organization harnessing the collective strength of conservative organizations fighting for Americans who are concerned with liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values, and strong national defense. ACU defines conservatism, grows conservatism, and wins for conservatism.

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Ed.  The details...

The Washington Times/CPAC 2013 Straw Poll

March 14-16, 2013
2,930 CPAC registrants
Q. Thinking ahead to the 2016 Presidential election, who would you vote for as the next Republican nominee for President?
Sen. Rand Paul (KY)
25%
Sen. Marco Rubio (FL)
23%
Former Sen. Rick Santorum (PA)
8%
Gov. Chris Christie (NJ)
7%
Rep. Paul Ryan (WI)
6%
Gov. Scott Walker (WI)
5%
Neurosrgeon Ben Carson
4%
Sen. Ted Cruz (TX)
4%
Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA)
3%
Former Gov. Sarah Palin (AK)
3%
Other
14%
Undecided
1%


Notes:  The CPAC straw polll is a very unrepresentative sample.  For example, 52% of those who participated said they were 18-25 years old and 66% were male. 

By comparison
at the same point in the 2012 cycle, the CPAC 2009 straw poll did predict the eventual nominee:
Former Gov. Mitt Romney
20%
Gov. Bobby Jindal
14%
Rep. Ron Paul
13%
Gov. Sarah Palin
13%
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich
10%
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee
7%
Gov. Mark Sanford
4%
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani
3%
Gov. Tim Pawlenty
2%
Gov. Charlie Crist
1%
Undecided
9%

For the 2008 cycle three years out, the CPAC 2005 straw poll did not do so well.  Rudy Giuliani finished first with 19% followed by Condoleezza Rice, subject of several draft efforts, at 18%.