Rand Paul comes out ahead in CPAC straw poll AGAIN, picking up 2016 momentum with US red-meat right wingers and libertarians
By David Martosko, US Political Editor and Francesca Chambers For Dailymail.com
Kentucky Senator Ron Paul emerged as American conservatives' favorite presidential hopeful on Saturday for the third year in a row, following the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington, D.C.
The freshman lawmaker bested a field of an astonishing 17 governors, senators, business executives and other assorted long-shot maybe-candidates, finishing with 25.7 per cent of the vote. Conference attendees could also choose a none-of-the-above option or write-in another choice.
Paul, the expected winner of the contest, said in a statement that he was
'humbled by the enthusiastic support and encouragement' he received from
'constitutional conservatives' who propelled him to victory.
'
The Constitutional Conservatives of our party have spoken in a loud and clear voice today,' he said.
'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.'
A surging Wisconsin Gov.
Scott Walker took second place with 21.4 per cent, followed by Texas Sen.
Ted Cruz, retired neurosurgeon
Ben Carson and former Florida Gov.
Jeb Bush.
Cruz's 11.5 per cent was just one-tenth of a point better than
Carson's showing.
Cruz placed second in 2014.
Bush's received 8.3 per cent of the votes. His name was announced first as the 5th-place finisher on Saturday at the event's closing session, drawing a cascade of boos from activists who had remained to hear the results…
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