The Washington Times/ CPAC 2013 Straw Poll

March 14-16, 2013 n=2,930 CPAC Registrants

Key Points about the Straw Poll

Ballots collected from Thursday morning through Saturday afternoon Only registrants could vote 50 States and Puerto Rico represented in the balloting

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

Straw Poll Votes Cast

3,742 3,408 2,930 2,395 1,705 1,251 641 1,757

1,558

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013
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Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

Type of Registrant
50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

44%

41%

9%

6%

Individual Associated with CPAC Participating Organization CPAC Participating Organization Student
Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013 4

Age
60%

52%
50%

40%

30%

20%

20% 13%

10%

7% 2%

5%
Over 65

0%

Under 18

18 - 25

26 - 40

41 - 55

56 - 65

Q. What is your age?

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

Gender
70%

66%

60%

50%

40%

34%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Male
Q. What is your gender?

Female

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

Personal Core Beliefs

90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

77%

15% 8%

My most important goal is to promote individual freedom by reducing the size and scope of government and its intrusion into the lives of its citizens. My most important goal is to promote traditional values by protecting traditional marriage and protecting the life of the unborn. My most important goal is to secure and guarantee American safety at home and abroad regardless of the cost or the size of government.
Q. Which ONE of the following comes closest to your core beliefs and ideology?

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

Job Approval
110% 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Barack Obama 96% 79%

Republicans in Congress

48%

46%

54% 44%

19% -60
2012

2% -94
2013

+2
2012

+10
2013

Approve

Disapprove

Net Approve

Q. Generally speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the job xxxxx is doing?

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

Preferred method to fix Budget Deficit

Spending cuts only

72%

Combo of tax increases and spending cuts

16%

Tax increases only

1%

Other/DK/Refused
0% 10%

11%
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Q. Which of the following methods of fixing the budget deficit would you favor MOST?

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

View of Sequester
80% 70%

68%

60%

50%

We should cut spending using the automatic across the board cuts to military and domestic programs that come with the Sequester even if that means cuts are made to important programs. We should cut spending but do it in a more targeted way without using the automatic across the board cuts to military and domestic programs that come with the Sequester. We should not be cutting spending right now.

40%

30%

23%

20%

10%

2%
0%

7%

Other/DK/Prefer not to say

Q. As you may know, automatic spending cuts to military and domestic programs commonly known as the Sequester went into effect on March 1st because President Obama and Republicans in Congress could not agree on a plan to reduce the federal budget deficit. Which of the following statements comes CLOSEST to your view regarding spending cuts and the Sequester?

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

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U.S.A.s Role in the World

60% 50%

50%

40%

As the world's only superpower, the U.S. needs to continue to bear the responsibility of protecting our allies in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world. Nearly 70 years after the end of World War II, it's time for our European, Asian and other allies to provide for their own defense. Other/DK/Prefer not to say

34%
30%

20%

17%

10%

0%

Q. Which of the following statements comes CLOSEST to your view regarding the United States role in the world?

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

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U.S. Government use of Drones

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

86% 70%

24% 9% 6% 6%

Kill U.S. Citizens

Favor Oppose

Spy on U.S. Citizens

DK/Prefer not to say

Q. Do you favor or oppose the U.S. Government using drones to kill/spy on U.S. citizens living in the United States who are non-combatants but are working with the enemy?

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

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GOP Presidential Nominee

KY Senator Rand Paul FL Senator Marco Rubio Former PA Senator Rick Santorum NJ Governor Chris Christie WI Congressman Paul Ryan WI Governor Scott Walker Neurosurgeon Ben Carson TX Senator Ted Cruz LA Governor Bobby Jindal Former AK Governor Sarah Palin Other Undecided
0%

25% 23% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% 14% 1%

5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Q. Thinking ahead to the 2016 Presidential election, who would you vote for as the next Republican nominee for President?

Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll Mar 2013

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