Rubio Is Top Veep Pick Of Conservative Activists

At regional conservatives conference in Chicago, the Florida Senator takes a commanding lead in straw poll.

Image by ERIC THAYER / Reuters

CHICAGO — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio took the top spot in the Conservative Political Action Conference Chicago vice presidential straw poll Friday, taking 30.4 percent of the vote.

Of the 520 ballots cast by conservative activists, Rubio had more than double the support of the next closest potential Mitt Romney running-mate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who appeared at the conference earlier in the day at earned 14.2 percent.

Rep. Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin budget hawk took third place with 9 percent, followed by Sen. Rand Paul (8 percent), Gov. Bobby Jindal (7 percent), and Sen. Rick Santorum (5 percent), who all appeared at the conference.

Two politicians often mentioned as being on Romney’s short-list, Sen. Rob Portman and Gov. Bob McDonnell, each failed to get 2 percent of the straw poll vote.