For three straight years Mitt Romney won the CPAC straw poll — 2007, 2008, and 2009. In the key year of 2008, despite his win, John McCain was the nominee.

This year, Ron Paul breaks Mitt Romney’s winning streak. Clearly Romney realized he was not getting a good return on his investment of organizing voters to vote — a regular phenomenon among potential candidates.

2,395 CPAC registrants voted in the CPAC poll. It’s the largest number of votes in CPAC straw polling history, but but less than 25% of the total turnout at CPAC.

48% of the votes cast were from students. 32% were from paying non-student individuals.

31% voted for Ron Paul. The crowd booed when it was announced.

22% voted for Mitt Romney.

7% voted for Sarah Palin.

6% for Tim Pawlenty

5% for Mike Pence

4% for Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich

2% for the actual 2012 GOP nominee, Mitch Daniels.

We can thank Ron Paul for showing just how worthless straw polls are.