Kellyanne Conway

The straw poll was available to CPAC attendees from Wednesday,

February 25 to Saturday, February 28.

Participants could complete the straw poll through the official CPAC App on
their mobile devices. In addition, a booth with six straw poll stations was
available to participants at the event.

Each attendee was assigned a unique, five digit PIN code with their
registration materials. Respondents were required to enter this PIN Code
to complete the straw poll, ensuring that only CPAC registrants could
participate.

N=3007 straw poll participants

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

Type of CPAC registrant

INDIVIDUAL

42%

45%

ASSOCIATED WITH CPAC

PARTICIPATING
ORGANIZATION
CPAC PARTICIPATING
ORGANIZATION
STUDENT

8%
4%

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

Age

37%
63%

Men

Women

UNDER 18

3%

18 TO 25

47%

26 TO 40

18%

41 TO 55

15%

56 TO 65

10%

OVER 65

7%

CPAC attendees from all 50 states

participated in the straw poll.

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

Which of the following groups of issues are most important to you when
deciding whom to support as the Republican nominee for President in 2016?
52%

29%

7%

9%
3%

ECONOMIC ISSUES, SOCIAL ISSUES, LIKE MORAL ISSUES, LIKE FOREIGN POLICY OR
LIKE JOBS AND TAXES EDUCATION AND
ABORTION AND
INTERNATIONAL
HEALTHCARE
MARRIAGE
ISSUES, LIKE
NATIONAL SECURITY
OR CONFLICTS IN THE
MIDDLE EAST

DO NOT KNOW

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

Which of these approaches to the health care law do you prefer: (ROTATED TOP-TOBOTTOM AND BOTTOM-TO-TOP)
83%

11%

REPEAL
OBAMACARE
AND REPLACE IT
WITH
SOMETHING
BETTER

MAKE MAJOR
FIXES TO
OBAMACARE

3%

MAKE MINOR
FIXES TO
OBAMACARE

1%

3%

LEAVE
DO NOT KNOW
OBAMACARE ASIS

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

Thinking about illegal immigration, which of the following views is closest to your
own?
37%

27%

18%
11%

7%

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE DEPORTED BACK TO THEIR

HOME COUNTRIES AND NOT ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR U.S.
CITIZENSHIP
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO RETURN TO
THEIR HOME COUNTRY BY ALLOWING THEM TO APPLY FOR U.S.
CITIZENSHIP WHEN THEY GET HOME
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE U.S.
LEGALLY AND APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY IN THE U.S.
LEGALLY, BUT NOT ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP
DO NOT KNOW/CANNOT JUDGE

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

Do you agree or disagree that Congress should use its spending power to defund
Obamas executive amnesty on illegal immigration?
TOTAL VERY/
SOMEWHAT AGREE: 77%

17%

60%

TOTAL VERY/
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE: 15%

7%
8%
TOTAL AGREE

TOTAL DISAGREE

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

Which of the following is the best argument for a more

free-market energy policy? You may select more than
one response. (ROTATE ANSWER CHOICES)
STIMULATING ECONOMIC GROWTH &
JOBS IN STATES

37%

MORE DEVELOPMENT OF U.S.

SOURCES

28%

LESS DEPENDENCY ON FOREIGN OIL

LOWERING PRICES OF HOME
HEATING AND FUEL
DO NOT KNOW/CANNOT JUDGE

24%
6%
5%

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

Thinking about national security, which approach is most

effective way to protect America
A STRONG INTERVENTIONIST FOREIGN
POLICY

3%
12%

16%
PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH: BUILDING
A STRONG MILITARY THAT IS USED
SPARINGLY WHEN U.S. INTERESTS ARE
AT STAKE
SELECTIVE DISENGAGEMENT FROM
WORLD AFFAIRS

70%

DO NOT KNOW/CANNOT JUDGE

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

10

Do you support or oppose the collection of phone data on U.S. citizens by the National
Security Agency for the purpose of preventing terrorist attacks and tracking those who
may have links to terrorism?
TOTAL VERY/
SOMEWHAT OPPOSE: 65%

TOTAL VERY/
SOMEWHAT SUPPORT: 32%

44%

22%
10%
TOTAL SUPPORT

21%
TOTAL OPPOSE

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

11

Which of the following statements most closely reflects

your view on the legalization of marijuana?
41%

26%

27%

7%

MARIJUANA SHOULD BE MARIJUANA SHOULD BE

LEGALIZED FOR
LEGALIZED ONLY FOR
RECREATIONAL AND
MEDICAL PURPOSES
MEDICAL USE AND
WHEN PRESCRIBED BY
TAXED
A DOCTOR

MARIJUANA SHOULD
REMAIN ILLEGAL

DO NOT KNOW

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

12

2-Point Abortion ID

6-Point Abortion ID

Do you consider yourself

(ROTATED) pro-life or
pro-choice on the issue
of abortion?

Which of the following statements best describes your own position on the issue
of abortion? (ROTATED TOP-TO-BOTTOM AND
BOTTOM-TO-TOP)

74% PRO-LIFE

66% TOTAL PRO-LIFE (NET)

20% ABORTION SHOULD BE PROHIBITED IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
18% ABORTION SHOULD BE LEGAL ONLY TO SAVE LIFE OF THE MOTHER
30% ABORTION SHOULD ONLY BE LEGAL IN CASES OF RAPE, INCEST OR
TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER

18% PRO-CHOICE

25% TOTAL PRO-CHOICE (NET)

15% ABORTION SHOULD BE LEGAL FOR ANY REASON, BUT NOT AFTER
THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY
6% ABORTION SHOULD BE LEGAL FOR ANY REASON, BUT NOT AFTER
THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF PREGNANCY
4% ABORTION SHOULD BE ALLOWED AT ANY TIME DURING A WOMANS
PREGNANCY AND FOR ANY REASON

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

13

Which of the following is the most important quality

for a Republican presidential candidate to possess
11%

ABILITY TO WIN STATES OBAMA WON

ABILITY TO RAISE MONEY

2%
12%

STRONG COMMUNICATION SKILLS

39%

SOLID CONSERVATIVE RECORD

11%

PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN ELECTED OFFICE
APPEAL TO INDEPENDENT VOTERS

5%
17%

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

14

Thinking about the 2016 Republican field, which of the following stances do
you consider a deal-breaker meaning, you would not vote for a candidate
who holds that position. (ACCEPTED MULTIPLE RESPONSES)
40%
35%

37%
31%

32%

BEING PRO-CHOICE

SUPPORTING A
FOREIGN POLICY
THAT DISENGAGES
FROM WORLD
CONFLICT

18%

EXPANDING
MEDICAID UNDER
OBAMACARE

SUPPORTING GAY
MARRIAGE

SUPPORTING
IMMIGRATION
REFORM THAT
INCLUDES AMNESTY

SUPPORTING
COMMON CORE
EDUCATION
STANDARDS

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

15

Which of the following best describes your view toward Common Core, a
federal education initiative that sets national standards for what students in
grades K through 12 should know in math and English?
I WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN
NOMINEE THAT SUPPORTS COMMON CORE

10%

33%
58%

I MIGHT VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN

NOMINEE THAT SUPPORTS COMMON
CORE, DEPENDING ON THEIR POSITIONS
TOWARD OTHER ISSUES
DO NOT KNOW/CANNOT JUDGE

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

16

1.

Hiring staff beyond their normal operations.

2.

Telling donors, supporters or media that they are seriously

considering a presidential run.

3.

Accepting invitations to purely presidential forums in early

primary states (ex. Iowa Freedom Summit)

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

17

Right now, who is your first choice for the Republican nominee
for President in 2016?
26%

RAND PAUL

21%

SCOTT WALKER

12%

TED CRUZ

11%

BEN CARSON

8%

JEB BUSH
DONALD TRUMP

4%

RICK SANTORUM

4%

MARCO RUBIO

4%
3%

CARLY FIORINA
CHRIS CHRISTIE

2%

BOBBY JINDAL

1%

RICK PERRY

1%

SARAH PALIN

1%

NOTE: Candidates receiving <1% not displayed.

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

18

And, who is your SECOND choice for the Republican Presidential

nomination in 2016?
19%

SCOTT WALKER

16%

RAND PAUL

12%

TED CRUZ

11%

BEN CARSON

7%

MARCO RUBIO

5%

JEB BUSH
DONALD TRUMP

4%

RICK SANTORUM

4%
5%

CARLY FIORINA
RICK PERRY

3%

CHRIS CHRISTIE

3%

BOBBY JINDAL

3%

NOTE: Candidates receiving <3% not displayed.

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

19

FIRST BALLOT

SECOND BALLOT

COMBO BALLOT

RAND PAUL

26%

16%

42%

SCOTT WALKER

21%

19%

40%

TED CRUZ

12%

12%

24%

BEN CARSON

11%

11%

22%

JEB BUSH

8%

5%

13%

MARCO RUBIO

4%

7%

11%

DONALD TRUMP

4%

4%

8%

RICK SANTORUM

4%

4%

8%

CARLY FIORINA

3%

5%

8%

CHRIS CHRISTIE

2%

3%

5%

RICK PERRY

1%

3%

5%

BOBBY JINDAL

1%

3%

4%

2015 CPAC Straw Poll: Results & Analysis

20