Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) won his third consecutive Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll victory at Saturday, news that was met with chants of “President Paul” throughout the Potomac Ballroom at the Gaylord National Convention Center.
Paul took in 25.7 percent of the votes in the poll out of the field of 17 potential Republican candidates. The CPAC straw poll is supposed to be indicative of where base support lies for the 2016 presidential race, though it is hardly a scientific measurement.
“I am humbled by the enthusiastic support and encouragement I received this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference,” Paul said in a statement. “Our party is filled with constitutional conservatives who have chosen to stand with me for a third consecutive straw poll victory…I plan on doing my part and I hope you will join me as I continue to make the GOP a bigger, better and bolder party.”
About 3,007 conference-goers voted in the poll, according to The Hill.
Paul is typically a favorite in this poll, but the biggest surprise was second place winner Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. Walker was a close second with 21.4 percent of the votes.
This is a major step up from last year. Walker finished sixth last year with just 7 percent of the vote.
The Hill also notes that his second place finish comes without any organized effort to push him to the top of the poll.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took third with 11.5 percent, Dr. Ben Carson took fourth with 11.4 percent, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush stood at fifth place with 8.3 percent of the votes. All of the other candidates pulled less than 5 percent.
