Dr. Ben Carson emerged victorious in Saturday’s straw poll at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in Oklahoma.
Carson won with 25.4 percent of the vote, from the event’s 1,000 participants–most of whom voted in the poll.
“I always enjoy coming to Oklahoma,” Carson said at one point, “because there are a lot of people here with common sense.”
He also ended up as the headliner, replacing Ted Cruz. Cruz and Rubio both canceled appearances to stay in D.C. for a late Friday night Senate vote on the Patriot Act. Cruz recorded a video and sent his father, Rafael Cruz, in his place.
Scott Walker came in second, at 20.5 percent, and won a standing ovation from the audience, according to NBC’s report. Cruz was behind him, at 16.6 percent.
Chris Christie made a distant fourth, with 5.3 percent, and Rick Perry fifth, at 5 percent.
Most voters named the economy and national security as their two priorities. Only 14.4 percent called social issues a priority.
