CPAC straw poll: Paul 31% Cruz 11% Carson 9% Christie 8% Walker 7% Santorum 7%

[Senator Cris]

Predict the results of CPAC's straw poll.

The 2013 results:

Rand Paul 25%
Marco Rubio 23%
Rick Santorum 8%
Chris Christie 7%
Paul Ryan 6%
Scott Walker 5%
Ben Carson 4%
Ted Cruz 4%
Bobby Jindal 3%
Sarah Palin 3%

[Mr. Morden]

Catanese reviews the 2016ers' speeches, and gives letter grades:

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/03/06/from-cruz-to-christie-grading-the-speeches-at-cpac

Jindal B
Rubio A
Christie A-
Cruz B+
Ryan B

Coming up on Friday: Perry, Huckabee, Santorum, Paul

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

My prediction:

1. Ted Cruz
2. Rand Paul
3. Scott Walker
4. Paul Ryan
5. Marco Rubio
6. Chris Christie
7. Rick Santorum
8. Ben Carson
9. Bobby Jindal
10. John Bolton

This will likely be 100% wrong, as I haven't heard any of the speeches yet.

[Mr. Morden]

My prediction:

1. Ted Cruz
2. Rand Paul
3. Scott Walker
4. Paul Ryan
5. Marco Rubio
6. Chris Christie
7. Rick Santorum
8. Ben Carson
9. Bobby Jindal
10. John Bolton

This will likely be 100% wrong, as I haven't heard any of the speeches yet.

I don't think Walker will do that well, since he's not showing up to speak at the event.  (Granted, Christie had a decent showing last time, despite not being there, but he has more of a national brand.)

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

My prediction:

1. Ted Cruz
2. Rand Paul
3. Scott Walker
4. Paul Ryan
5. Marco Rubio
6. Chris Christie
7. Rick Santorum
8. Ben Carson
9. Bobby Jindal
10. John Bolton

This will likely be 100% wrong, as I haven't heard any of the speeches yet.

I don't think Walker will do that well, since he's not showing up to speak at the event.  (Granted, Christie had a decent showing last time, despite not being there, but he has more of a national brand.)

Forgot that Walker wasn't attending. I debated placing Christie higher due to conservative feeling defensive over Bridgegate, but I was unsure on that. I haven't been following CPAC like I usually do.

[Mr. Illini]

1. Rand Paul
2. Scott Walker
3. Ted Cruz
4. Rick Santorum
5. Paul Ryan
6. Marco Rubio
7. Ben Carson
8. Chris Christie
9. Bobby Jindal
10. John Bolton

[Mr. Morden]

Weigel has great CPAC coverage as always:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel.html

Spoiler: Trump is still "birther curious", and Cruz thinks an Iranian EMP attack could kill "tens of millions of Americans".

[Mr. Morden]

According to this:

http://www.wsbt.com/news/politics/Christie-gets-warm-reception-at-gathering-of-the-right/24841074

Jeb Bush, for the second year in a row, asked his name be taken off the straw poll ballot, so there'll now be 25 names.

[Mr. Morden]

Here's the list of everyone on the ballot:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/06/cpac-latest-developments/

1.         NH Senator Kelly Ayotte
2.         KS Governor Sam Brownback
3.         Neurosurgeon Ben Carson
4.         NJ Governor Chris Christie
5.         TX Senator Ted Cruz
6.         Former IN Governor Mitch Daniels
7.         SC Governor Nikki Haley
8.         Former AR Governor Mike Huckabee
9.         LA Governor Bobby Jindal
10.       OH Governor John Kasich
11.       NM Governor Susana Martinez
12.       Former AK Governor Sarah Palin
13.       KY Senator Rand Paul
14.       IN Governor Mike Pence
15.       TX Governor Rick Perry
16.       OH Senator Rob Portman
17.       Former Sec. of State Condoleeza Rice
18.       FL Senator Marco Rubio
19.       WI Congressman Paul Ryan
20.       Former PA Senator Rick Santorum
21.       SC Senator Tim Scott
22.       SD Senator John Thune
23.       Business Executive Donald Trump
24.       WI Governor Scott Walker
25.       Former FL Congressman Allen West

[Mr. Morden]

No Peter King on the ballot.  And no John Bolton either.

Bolton is speaking at CPAC, and has been publicly talking about the fact that he's thinking about running for president.  But they put Sam Brownback and Tim Scott on the ballot, but not him?

(Also, the earlier report that McDonnell would be on the ballot appears to be wrong.)

[Vega]

McDonnell is no surprise; shocked that they put Scott and not Bolton on there.

[Mr. Morden]

Why Walker skipped CPAC: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/03/07/why-scott-walker-was-smart-to-skip-cpac/

[Mr. Morden]

Perry is a little loopy again.

[NewYorkExpress]

My CPAC predictions (percentages not included)

26. Mitch Daniels
25. Condolezza Rice
24. Donald Trump
23. Marco Rubio
22. John Thune
21. Ben Carson
20. Bobby Jindal
19. Rob Portman (Why is he even on this ballot?)
18. Tim Scott
17. John Kasich
16. Mike Pence
15. Rick Santorum
14. Chris Christie
13. Sam Brownback
12. Allen West
11. Nikki Haley
10. Paul Ryan
9. Rick Perry
8. Other- Jeb Bush
7. Rick Santorum
6. Kelly Ayotte
5. Sarah Palin
4. Rand Paul
3. Kelly Ayotte
2. Scott Walker
1. Ted Cruz

[Senator Cris]

My CPAC predictions (percentages not included)

26. Mitch Daniels
25. Condolezza Rice
24. Donald Trump
23. Marco Rubio
22. John Thune
21. Ben Carson
20. Bobby Jindal
19. Rob Portman (Why is he even on this ballot?)
18. Tim Scott
17. John Kasich
16. Mike Pence
15. Rick Santorum
14. Chris Christie
13. Sam Brownback
12. Allen West
11. Nikki Haley
10. Paul Ryan
9. Rick Perry
8. Other- Jeb Bush
7. Rick Santorum
6. Kelly Ayotte
5. Sarah Palin
4. Rand Paul
3. Kelly Ayotte
2. Scott Walker
1. Ted Cruz

Ayotte, Haley, Brownback > Christie ?

[NewYorkExpress]

My CPAC predictions (percentages not included)

26. Mitch Daniels
25. Condolezza Rice
24. Donald Trump
23. Marco Rubio
22. John Thune
21. Ben Carson
20. Bobby Jindal
19. Rob Portman (Why is he even on this ballot?)
18. Tim Scott
17. John Kasich
16. Mike Pence
15. Rick Santorum
14. Chris Christie
13. Sam Brownback
12. Allen West
11. Nikki Haley
10. Paul Ryan
9. Rick Perry
8. Other- Jeb Bush
7. Rick Santorum
6. Kelly Ayotte
5. Sarah Palin
4. Rand Paul
3. Kelly Ayotte
2. Scott Walker
1. Ted Cruz

Ayotte, Haley, Brownback > Christie ?

I'm assuming the movement conservatives there will still think Christie is "too moderate".

[Senator Cris]

So, why Christie has received 7% and the 4th place in the 2013 straw-poll?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I saw Christie. His speech was pretty good. His main points were making sure we define ourselves and aren't just a party of "No."

Jindal's speech was, for a decent portion, focusing on education reform and talking about Louisiana's school choice program success.

Rubio's speech wasn't as impressive, and I got distracted by Ukraine news.

[Senator Cris]

I saw Christie. His speech was pretty good. His main points were making sure we define ourselves and aren't just a party of "No."

Jindal's speech was, for a decent portion, focusing on education reform and talking about Louisiana's school choice program success.

Rubio's speech wasn't as impressive, and I got distracted by Ukraine news.

Your prediction on the straw poll results?

[Senator Cris]

Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com today announced the frontrunners in the presidential straw poll he is conducting at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Senator Rand Paul topped the ballot on the first day at 29 percent. Senator Ted Cruz was running second at 17 percent.

Rounding out the top five were Ben Carson at 10%, Marco Rubio at 10%, and Chris Christie at 10%.

"The fact that the top votegetters in this year's CPAC straw poll are young limited government constitutional conservatives bodes well for Republican chances in 2016," said Viguerie. "The common trait among the top votegetters in our straw poll is that they are all 'boat-rockers' of a limited government constitutional conservative bent -- the establishment Republicans contenders are all at the bottom of the list."

"In my view, voters are rejecting the Republican establishment and its brand of Big Government 'me-too-ism' in favor of candidates who are authentic representatives of the grassroots conservative base of the Party, and it is that authenticity that put Rand Paul and Ted Cruz at the top of the straw poll."

Following are the complete first day results of the ConservativeHQ.com CPAC poll:

Rand Paul (29%)
Ted Cruz (17%)
Ben Carson (10%)
Marco Rubio (10%)
Chris Christie (10%)
Scott Walker (7%)
Paul Ryan (2%)
Jeb Bush (2%)
Rick Santorum (2%)
Mike Pence (1%)
Note: Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal did not receive enough votes to remain on the leader board.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation) and one of the "conservatives of the century" (Washington Times). He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause and the new book, Takeover.

Link to article --> http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/8676173765.html

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I saw Christie. His speech was pretty good. His main points were making sure we define ourselves and aren't just a party of "No."

Jindal's speech was, for a decent portion, focusing on education reform and talking about Louisiana's school choice program success.

Rubio's speech wasn't as impressive, and I got distracted by Ukraine news.

Your prediction on the straw poll results?

Paul - 26
Cruz - 19
Rubio - 14
All the others - 41

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Santorum just spoke. He started off a little controversial by blaming the 08 and 12 losses on having moderate candidates, but transitioned into saying we need to talk about helping working Americans. Overall, it was a pretty good speech, but nothing overwhelming.

[Senator Cris]

Santorum just spoke. He started off a little controversial by blaming the 08 and 12 losses on having moderate candidates, but transitioned into saying we need to talk about helping working Americans. Overall, it was a pretty good speech, but nothing overwhelming.

Your prediction on Chris Christie result at straw poll?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Santorum just spoke. He started off a little controversial by blaming the 08 and 12 losses on having moderate candidates, but transitioned into saying we need to talk about helping working Americans. Overall, it was a pretty good speech, but nothing overwhelming.

Your prediction on Chris Christie result at straw poll?

Around 7% like last year, maybe a couple less.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Rand Paul just spoke. He had a pretty strong speech... probably the best from a speaking standpoint and not looking at policy. The substance of it was very good IMO, but wouldn't appeal to the hawks of the party.