CPAC Straw Poll Winner: Ron Paul

In 2008 Ron Paul won the hearts of a small but zealous arm of the Republican Party. At this year's CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) Straw Poll, the Zacchaeus branch took center stage by giving their candidate a meaningless victory. The results:

• Ron Paul 33%
• Mitt Romney 22%
• Sarah Palin 7%
• Tim Pawlenty 6%

Must have been a blow to Pawlenty who was in attendance while Palin was not.

Naturally the poll is meaningless (I think Barry Goldwater won the 2008 vote) but it does tell us something. Paul is a Libertarian and it is precisely his personal freedom mantra that is resonating with the anti-Obama, anti-big government crowd. And while Paul leaves a lot to be desired in my book, his freedom approach is becoming a road map to victory.