CPAC 2012 Straw Poll  ...Back >
Feb. 11, 2012--The straw poll was conducted online for the first time; people could vote from their computers or other devices or go to a room.  Voting took place from 9 a.m. on Thursday to 1 p.m. on Saturday.  Pollster Tony Fabrizio oversaw the straw poll.  Fabrizio recalled the first CPAC straw poll, in which only 400 people participated and which was covered by ten reporters.  Three thousand four hundred and eight (3,408) people participated in this 2012 straw poll, the second highest turnout ever (highest was the 3,742 votes cast in 2011).  Participants included 45-percent individual registrants, 44-percent students, and the rest were from participating organizations or associated with participating organizations.  In comparison to national sampling the CPAC straw poll participants were younger and skewed male-female 60-percent to 40-percent.  Fabrizio conducted a national telephone survey coinciding with the straw poll, so one can compare.  He first announced results on vice presidential preference:

Vice Presidential Choice

 Straw Poll
 National
Marco Rubio
 34
 15
Chris Christie
 9
 15
Bob McDonnell
 9
 1
Paul Ryan
 8
 5
Mitch Daniels
 6
 3
Herman Cain
 5
 7
Rick Perry
 4
 9
Jon Huntsman
 4
 3
Susan Martinez
 2
 1
John Boehner
 1
 6
Pat Toomey
 1
 <1
Other
 12
 8
Undec./DK/Refused
 5
 27

Just over a third of straw poll participants favored U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.  A relatively high number of participants volunteered names ranging from Congressman Allen West to Rand Paul to Donald Trump.
Presidential Choice

 Straw Poll
 National
Mitt Romney
 38
 27
Rick Santorum
 31
 25
Newt Gingrich
 15
 20
Ron Paul
 12
 8
Other/Undecided
 4
 20

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