CPAC Straw Poll shows Allen ahead, others close for 2008

The "Straw Poll" at the 2006 Conservative Political Action Conference revealed a great deal about conservative and Republican opinions on government, immigration, and international affairs--but very little on who may end up being the 2008 Presidential nominee.

The Presidential poll finished like this:

Thinking ahead to the 2008 presidential election,

who do you think will be the next Republican nominee for President?

George Allen: 22%

John McCain: 20%

Rudy Giuliani: 12%

Condoleezza Rice: 10%

Bill Frist: 6%

Tom Tancredo: 5%

Mitt Romney: 5%

Newt Gingrich: 5%

Rick Santorum: 3%

George Pataki: 3%

Undecided: 4%

*All others tested received 1% or less

The poll, which was conducted during check-in on Thursday and Friday, February 9-10, showed that most conservative attendees favored smaller and less-involved government, believed in staying the course in Iraq, thought that Iran must be prevented at all costs from obtaining nuclear weapons, and favored a tough, well-enforced new immigration policy. The winner of the straw-poll question regarding the expected Democrat nominee was Hillary Clinton, who received 62% of the vote. Frist, Allen, and Gingrich all spoke at the conference after the poll had been taken.