The official Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) straw poll asking attendees who Donald Trump should pick as his running mate yielded some interesting results.
The poll, which surveyed the largely MAGA faithful in attendance at the CPAC event in Maryland, found that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were tied as the top choice as Trump's running mate, winning 15 percent of the vote respectively.
Next in line was former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who is reportedly set to endorse Trump by headlining a fundraiser for him at his resort in Mar-a-Lago in March.
In third place, also tied, with eight percent, were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, both of whom have enthusiastically backed the former president's campaign.
CPAC VP straw poll
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) February 25, 2024
1. 15% Ramaswamy & Noem (TIE)
3. 9% Tulsi Gabbard
4. 8% Stefanik & Tim Scott (TIE)
6. 7% Donalds
7. 6% Lake
8. 5% Carson/DeSantis/Sander (TIE)
Florida Rep. Byron Donalds followed next with seven percent, followed by Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake with six percent. Former Trump HUD Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders all scored five percent, while Tucker Carlson and Independent 2024 presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. scored four and three percent, respectively.
Among the most notable results was last place, which went to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, with two percent.
Haley's dismal showing will perhaps come as a surprise to those who have touted her as a potential running mate. In a separate poll for who the conference attendees support for the Republican nomination, Haley trailed Trump by a staggering 89 points among the CPAC faithful.
Former President Trump resoundingly won the Conservative Political Action Conference’s (CPAC) straw poll, beating Nikki Haley 94 to 5 percent.
— The Hill (@thehill) February 24, 2024
Read our full story here: https://t.co/QbSlYRYXRw pic.twitter.com/rbyPfLXIiC
On Saturday evening, Trump also triumphed over Haley in the primary election in South Carolina. Although counting remains underway and the full results have yet to be published, it appears that Trump won by approximately a 20-point margin and will collect all the available delegates as a result.
Read More: BREAKING: Trump Gains Decisive Win in SC, Besting Haley in Her Home State
"This is really something," Trump said in his victory speech on Saturday evening. "This was a little sooner than we anticipated and an even bigger win than we anticipated. And I was just informed that we got double the number of votes that has ever been received in the great state of South Carolina."
BREAKING.🚨
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) February 25, 2024
Donald Trump defeats Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina within a minute of polls opening. This race is OVER.pic.twitter.com/FyIxatysa7
Trump's victory effectively ties up the nomination, meaning that barring an extraordinary turn of events, he will be the Republican nominee come November.
Haley, meanwhile, has so far refused to suspend her presidential campaign and has insisted that she will fight to the bitter end. “40 percent is not some tiny group,” Haley told supporters after her defeat on Saturday. “There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primary that want an alternative...“ She added, "I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for President. I’m a woman of my word.”
Join the conversation as a VIP Member