Marco Rubio the favorite VP choice of Chicago CPAC attendees

Mitt Romney, talks to reporters as he is joined by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., during a news conference prior to a town hall-style meeting in Aston, Pa., on April 23, 2012.

/ Jae C. Hong

(CBS News) ROSEMONT, Ill. - Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was the undisputed favorite vice presidential choice of conservative activists gathered for the Chicago Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), receiving 30 percent of a straw poll vote that asked attendees who they would like to see as Mitt Romney's running mate this fall.

Rubio - who did not speak at the conference - was followed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie with 14 percent and Rep. Paul Ryan, with 9 percent of the vote. Fourth and fifth place went to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (who spoke to the crowd Friday afternoon) respectively.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who spoke to the crowd Friday afternoon, and Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, a top-mentioned VP possibility who did not attend the conference, both received less than 2 percent of the vote.

Running Mates

Romney's potential VP picks »

The poll's results were much less conclusive on the question of what should drive the presumptive nominee's choice. Thirty-two percent of the voters wanted to see Romney run with someone who could reach out to the more conservative wing of the party, 27 percent would like to see a running mate who would complement his governing and 20 percent said they would prioritize a candidate with broad national appeal, especially to minorities.

Only 17 percent thought the top criteria should be qualification to lead the country, and just 4 percent said Romney should pick a running mate from a key state.

The straw poll, which featured 23 prominent Republicans as choices on the poll, was co-sponsored by The Washington Times; 520 people at the conference voted out of well over 1,000 in attendance at the height of the conference.

More from CPAC Chicago:

McDonnell talks up Romney at CPAC
Jindal: Obama "most liberal, most incompetent" president since Carter
Chris Christie to conservatives: "We're right and they're wrong"

[hypnotoad72]

Chicago... land of corruption and half-baked community organizers? Or are those words only allowed to describe Democrats with?

[David_Tampa]

Anything to get this jerk out of Florida

[jonnyooh]

Paul Ryan? If America's huge moron population liked Scott Walker, they will love Paul Ryan. Excellent choice.

[edwardw69]

I keep asking this, but no one from the TP will answer me: how can Mr. Rubio be VP if neither of his parents was an American citizen? Mr. Obama at least had one, and look what you TP'ers have been ranting about for years.

[hypnotoad72]

*zing*

Plus, Rubio has little experience. They've been ranting for Obama on "no experience" and he brought in Biden and others who HAVE experience (and some of them worked with the GOP as well...)

The TPers have nothing to go on, regardless of facet.

[rsamps1]

Good luck with Rubio. He adds little to the ticket but adding to the perception that Willard Romney needs to roll the dice to have any chance. Latinos aren't fooled by Rubio, a man with too many skeletons in his closet & who, like Romney, is completely incapable of running our great country.
Democrats will be overjoyed if Romney is foolish enough to choose Rubio as a running mate in the on-going circus known as the Republican challenge.

[royalstar05]

My God, how many douchbags does the republican party have?

[gep1955]

Not as many as Obama.

[hypnotoad72]

gep1955 -

Don't forget, Obama takes his cues from the GOP:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2011/10/11/how-mitt-romneys-health-care-experts-helped-design-obamacare/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/vp/40575006#40575006

Chess is a beautiful game, I'll admit...