Opinion

CPAC Straw Poll Reveals Its Own Irrelevance .. Again

By now, most of you have already heard that Ron Paul has won the CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) Presidential Straw Poll for a second straight year with 30% of the vote.

Ron Paul ran in the 2008 Presidential race but was never much of a contender for the Republican nomination. To top it all off a Public Policy Poll of the top eight prospective candidates has him much closer to the bottom.

Presidential Candidate Poll January 2011
Graphic from CDN, Data from Public Policy Polling 1/21/11

While the Ronulans boisterously supported their favorite candidate at the conference, it is likely that his base was more motivated to participate in the straw poll as Sarah Palin didn’t even attend. With no truly announced candidates in the race, this poll was nothing more than a way to keep Paul’s supporters energized.

Further proof of CPAC’s poll’s worthlessness is seeing Mitt Romney (he who created socialized health care in Massachusettes) come in with a very strong second place finish (23%). Romney had managed to win the CPAC straw poll in 2007, 2008 and 2009 but still didn’t manage the 2008 Republican nomination. That’s 0 for 2 there CPAC pollsters.

Paul and Romney are the last two candidates that have a chance at the Republican nomination .. well, other than Newt Gingrich.

Support Conservative Daily News with a small donation via Paypal or credit card that will go towards supporting the news and commentary you've come to appreciate.

Rich Mitchell

Rich Mitchell is the editor-in-chief of Conservative Daily News and the president of Bald Eagle Media, LLC. His posts may contain opinions that are his own and are not necessarily shared by Bald Eagle Media, CDN, staff or .. much of anyone else. Find him on twitter, facebook and

Related Articles

8 Comments

    1. I don’t think Huckabee will run. He has too much of a good thing going. Ron can’t win the primary and I hope Mitt can’t.

      Right now I’m finding more people that I don’t want to see run than I can find to support. Seems like it starts this way every time then we end up with McCain or some crap.

      1. I hear ya both. Mitt is a flip-floppy, McCain-like, say anything candidate.

        Paul is just way out there on some things and I can’t support him.

        I’m looking at Mitch Daniels, Maybe Pawlenty – I’m still looking around. It’s early yet.

        My definitely nots:
        – Newt
        – Ron Paul
        – Romney

      2. Gary Johnson is quite a viable condidate, IMO. Proven fiscal hawk/ budget chopper, been out of politics for a bit, strong solid cons. creds. Check him out here at CDN Lets us know of anything we may have missed on him, pros or cons.

    1. The full results: Sarah Palin 3%

      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

  1. Tom Tancredo is the one candidate, announced or otherwise, whom I would support for president. He’s the only one among the GOP pack with the guts to say things about mass Third World immigration (i.e., the need to end it) that are banned from polite company. Go, Tom, go!

  2. Seek certainly had to brush the cobwebs off to find this one. BUT…it’s not too early to start the ball moving!!!We have a super steep hill to climb & in just 2 years another election! Another chance to score bit time. Re-elections seem to bring out an effort to actually listen & act on ‘why’ they got elected the first time!! Put them on notice NOW while you’re vetting others. (there just might be a Ted Cruz in your neighborhood)

Back to top button