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Ben Carson wins Western Summit straw poll

For the second year in a row, Ben Carson was the top vote getter in the presidential straw poll at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver Sunday.

For the second year in a row, Ben Carson was won the presidential straw poll at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver on Sunday.

Carson has been a speaker at both events. This year he beat a field of 18 Republicans with 224 votes out of 871 ballots cast by attendees for GOP candidates.

Carly Fiorina was second with 201 votes, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was third with 192 votes, followed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with 100.

All three spoke at the annual conference that attracts social conservatives, representatives of the religious right and political activists.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who leads most national polls, did not attend and collected just four votes, one fewer than California Sen. Nancy Pelosi collected on a list of potential Democratic candidates.

Other Republicans who received votes were Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. 34; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, 24; former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, 20; former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, 16; businessman Donald Trump. 15; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 13; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, 9; Colorado Christian University President Bill Armstrong, 6; Ohio Gov. John Kasich, 4; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, 3; South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, 3; and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 3.

This year’s straw poll also included a field of Democrats, which drew votes from 294 attendees.

Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb was the favorite of the conservatives in Denver with 83 votes, far outpacing former New York Sen. Hillary Clinton with 48. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders collected 42 votes, and Vice President Joe Biden had 39.

Besides Pelosi,who finished last, Democrats receiving votes were Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 21; former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, 17; former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, 16; first lady Michelle Obama, 15; and Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, 8.

Last year, Carson beat Cruz and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in the straw poll that included two dozen Republicans.



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