Huckabee Is 2012 Favorite in Values Voters' Poll

Former Arkansas governor and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee won the straw poll at an annual conference of "values voters" over the weekend. The poll, closely watched as an indicator of the political climate among religious conservatives, saw Huckabee taking 29 percent of the votes, while former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Rep. Mike Pence each came in with about 12 percent. Other candidates in the poll who barely made a showing: former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, which hosted the conference, said that the overwhelming preference for Huckabee would not translate into automatic support. "We want a fully rounded conservative candidate," he said. "Right now, the door's wide open."

Four of the five top candidates in the poll -- Palin was the exception -- addressed the summit. Huckabee drew some attention with strong stances on social issues, along with his defiant response to calls urging conservatives to move toward the center. "I'm not sure the center makes a whole lot of sense when it's coming from people who certainly don't have our interest, or our country's interest, at heart," he said.

Huckabee Wins Values Voters' 2012 Straw Poll [CNN Political Ticker]