Ron Paul Wins 2012 Straw Poll

Will Ron Paul make a comeback in 2012? The Texas congressman known for his staunch libertarian views came out on top of the presidential straw poll at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference for a second year in a row, earning 30 percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney came in second place with 23 percent; other candidates only managed to earn single digits. Though he came in second, the vote could solidify Romney’s status as a 2012 frontrunner, since Paul’s base, while die-hard, is not seen as broad enough to win a general election. Another buzzed-about contender, Sarah Palin, declined to attend CPAC for the fourth year in a row. She took 3 percent of the vote.