Romney wins GOP straw poll

WASHINGTON – Presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Saturday won a straw poll of conservative political activists gathered in Washington, a very early indication of how an important Republican constituency might vote.

Romney was the first choice for the GOP nomination, with 21 percent of the 1,705 activists who voted at the 34th annual Conservative Political Action Conference. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani came in second with 17 percent, and Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas was third with 15 percent.

Last year, the activists said they preferred as their presidential candidate then-Virginia Sen. George Allen, who later lost his re-election bid.

The nation’s first primary is more than 10 months away, making such votes little more than a popularity contest among a slice of the population that might not represent any electorate.

But the result underscored the difficulty that one GOP candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, faces in drawing support because of past views and statements. McCain – who did not attend the convention, unlike Romney and Giuliani – came in fifth in the poll, and the mention of his name Saturday drew boos from the crowd.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich brought the convention to a raucous close Saturday with a speech in which he urged conservatives not to compromise and called for a broader national debate about ideas.

Gingrich, who has not yet said he is running for president, finished fourth in the poll, with 14 percent.