PAC Leaders Slam Buchanan

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Feb 21, 2000 | by John Elvin

A straw poll taken at the CPAC 2000 conference mirrored the obvious in terms of the front-runner for the Republican nomination, handing the lead to Texas Gov. George W. Bush with 42 percent of the vote. Former State Department official Alan Keyes claimed a strong second with 23 percent; magazine magnate Steve Forbes, 14 percent; Arizona Sen. John McCain, 11 percent; Family Research Council head Gary Bauer, 3 percent; and Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, 1 percent.

Two leaders of the event, David Keene of the American Conservative Union and pollster Tony Fabrizio, took the opportunity in announcing the results to slam Pat Buchanan for leaving the GOP in favor of the Reform Party. Buchanan has "sacrificed much of his conservative support," Keene said. Fabrizio claimed the results reflect a perception that Buchanan has "walked away" from conservatives and his own conservative principles.

In a poll focusing on possible vice-presidential nominees, Elizabeth Dole stood out with 20 percent of the vote. Others in double digits were Keyes with 12 percent and Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma with 11 percent.