The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), held its annual conference February 26 -28, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Registrants were invited to take part in a straw poll, which 1,757 of them did. Not surprisingly, when they were asked if they approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing as president, 95% disapproved, surprisingly, however, 4% did approve. Isn't there always about 4% that don't understand the question ? Poll takers were also asked their opinion of the job Republicans in Congress are doing, 70% approved and 29% disapproved.
The CPAC conferences are traditionally early proving grounds for future Republican presidential candidates and those taking the poll were asked to think ahead to the 2012 presidential election and who they would vote for as the next GOP nominee for president. 20% of those responding selected former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as their choice for the 2012 GOP nomination, followed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal with 14%, and with Ron Paul and Sarah Palin both polling 13%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich polled 10% and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee pulled in 7% of the vote. Other potential presidential candidates listed on the poll included, Mark Sanford 4%, Rudy Giuliani 3%, Tim Pawlenty 2% and Florida Governor Charlie Crist with 1%. Of those completing the poll, 9% were undecided.
When respondents were asked if they are generally satisfied with the names floated as potential GOP contenders, 55% said they were satisfied and 44% wished the GOP had a better field of potential candidates.
Rush Limbaugh led the pack for favorite conservative media personality with 26%, followed by Glenn Beck with 17%, Sean Hannity with 11%, Bill O'Reilly with 10%, and Ann Coulter with 7%. Michael Savage was voted as the favorite of 3% with Mark Levin, Michael Medved, Neal Boortz and, Bill Bennett each getting 2% of the vote.
