WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Republican U.S. presidential hopeful Mitt Romney was back in the win column Saturday, taking the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll.
Roll Call reported the former Massachusetts governor received 38 percent of the vote at the gathering of conservative activists in Washington. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania was second with 31 percent, followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia at 15 percent and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas fourth at 12 percent.
Paul had won the conservatives' straw poll the past two years and Romney the three years prior to that, the Washington publication said.
The Washington Post reported the victory in a straw poll that drew 3,408 voters could be a big shot in the arm for Romney, who watched Santorum win in three states this week.
