Rand Paul wins 2014 CPAC straw poll, Ted Cruz finishes a distant second

The Associated Press ^ | 03-08-2014 | Stephen Dinan

[PaulCruz2016]

Sen. Rand Paul demolished his competition in the 2014 Washington Times/CPAC presidential preference straw poll on Saturday, winning 31 percent of the vote -- nearly three times the total of second-place Sen. Ted Cruz.

Mr. Cruz's 11 percent was still a big improvement for the freshman senator, who won just 4 percent in last year's straw poll. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson was third with 9 percent and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was fourth with 8 percent in results that signal growing discontent with the GOP establishment in Washington.

Indeed, CPAC voters now have an unfavorable view of Republicans in Congress, with 51 percent saying they disapprove of the job the GOP is doing on Capitol Hill. Just last year the GOP had a 54 percent approval rating, and in 2012 they held a 70 percent approval rating.

[RIghtwardHo]

If there is anything less meaningful than special elections, it’s straw polls.

[Longbow1969]

If the Ron Paul supporters were as organized as they claim to be, they’d have pulled off a surprise win there.

To be fair, on a very local level, at least in 2011/2012, the paulites were able to sometimes out organize and out maneuver the establishment - but that's mostly because the establishment didn't see it coming. And where the paulites were able to take over local GOP committees and such, they simply don't share the same views as most conservatives/Republicans they claim to represent.

Outside of highly energized local level organization, the paulies can't accomplish much. There were downright hilarious incidents of Ron Paul rallies on/around college campuses that would draw very large crowds of even a couple thousand people, yet the next day in an actual primary he'd lose the very same precinct/district in a landslide and only garner a handful of votes. I think a lot of his crowd is just young people out for the party and trying to get laid. Most of Ron Paul crowds aren't motivated enough to actually drag their drug addled butts out of bed and cast a ballot.

[2ndDivisionVet]

If Gomer Huckleberry can't beat Sarah Palin, who's been attacked hourly by every branch of progressivism for going on 6 years and has made no noises about running while he was safely ensconced in his little weekend show, he might as well give up any notion of trying again

[2ndDivisionVet]

You’re making my point for me.

[PapaNew]

So far Rand Paul is my man, foreign policy notwithstanding, because he's so clear that by far the greatest threat to America and our freedoms is the large, unconstitutional, socialist federal government. I want somebody who will CLOSE DOWN most of the cabinet departments, MOST of the administrative state, and MOST of the IRS with taxes being cut to a flat 10% to 15%. And, as Reagan did, build the best military and intelligence community in the world and don't listen to the weak, sad, self-opposing Leftists. Weakness, not strength, invites aggression. This is the way back home folks.

Once we get strong economically, militarily, and morally, we'll be able to take on aggressive nations like Russia and China who threaten us and other free nations.

Once we are spiritually strong, we can once again be a light to the world. No, it isn't about Rand Paul, but its a start. It's really about the American People taking charge of their lives and their country by God's grace.

[Arrowhead1952]

Fox is running her speech now.

[dandiegirl]

Greta pushed and pushed Christie the other night. I hate the way the talking heads pick their favorite and give no air time to the candidates the viewers like.

[PapaNew]

I love Sarah but it’s hard to vote for a non-candidate. I find Paul the most ardent advocate for cutting government of every national figure except Palin. Big government is by far the greatest threat to our free way of life. I think we should judge Paul on his own merits not on his fathers’.

[NormsRevenge]

The herd moves ..

Away from the Bushes..

Except in TeXas.

Hope?

[deport]

he might as well give up any notion of trying again

************

IMO, not all that splash around have any expectations of winning the prize.
Instead, I think they are mostly interested in their back pocket enhancement.
It gives them media exposure they can’t buy, a few engagements,
ego boost, etc. and hopefully some dollars .

[dandiegirl]

Rand can get all the libertarians(youth) that loved Ron Paul. I like a Paul/Cruz ticket.

[napscoordinator]

Yeah! Two first term Senators are the front runners. We are sure to lose if we keep this crap up.

[lonestar67]

CPAC needs to be changed to LPAC.

Libertarians are not conservative.

No defense of marriage.

No defense of human life.

Libertarians selectively deform the state to allow civil rights abuses.

Like Cruz. Like palin.

Rand Paul is neo isolationist.

[plainshame]

Yep,if you cheat and lie like romney no one would win because the GOP was at war with itself trying to off the Paul supporters at every step.The last election was a joke among republicans because they were so busy cutting each others throats that they forgot the game was to win the whitehouse.

[rainee]

Anyone catch Palin keynote speech right now? She was awesome..

[Longbow1969]

Yeah, I wasn’t disagreeing with you. Just adding some commentary :)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Like Newt, you mean?

[Cyber Liberty]

It’s starting to look that way. Too bad because they’ll destroy whatever support Rand can get among the voters. He’ll be finished the first time I see a bed-sheet sign on a street corner.

[RaceBannon]

Now we know why the Traitor Adam kokesh was at CPAC...

[2ndDivisionVet]

So you know nothing about his stances on amnesty, foreign policy or marijuana?