Mitt Romney wins conservatives' straw poll, edging out Santorum, Gingrich The USA Times

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Mitt Romney wins conservatives' straw poll, edging out Santorum, Gingrich

(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney has won The Washington Times/CPAC Presidential Straw Poll of conservative activists.

The former Massachusetts governor is favoured as the Republican presidential nominee by 38 per cent of the 3,408 respondents. Rivals Rick Santorum drew 31 per cent, and Newt Gingrich was backed by 15 per cent. All three candidates addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Friday.

Romney had encouraged students to attend the convention, and 44 per cent of them participated in the poll.

Texas Rep. Ron Paul had 12 per cent. He won the straw poll in the previous two years. Paul did not attend the conference to campaign in Maine.

Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio said the poll was held online for the first time this year and produced the second highest turnout in the conference's history.