AN EMAIL FROM THE SENATE CONSERVATIVES FUND:

Fellow Conservatives:

We wanted to share the final results of the 2016 presidential straw poll that we conducted a few weeks ago. With more than 60,000 ballots cast, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) was the clear winner with 43% of the vote. U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) finished second with 18%. Here are the results:

• Sen. Ted Cruz (TX) - 42.67% (26,114)
• Sen. Rand Paul (KY) - 18.00% (11,018)
• Gov. Scott Walker (WI) - 10.05% (6,153)
• Other: (write-in candidates) - 6.85% (4,192)
• Fmr. Gov. Mike Huckabee (AR) - 6.15% (3,765)
• Gov. Rick Perry (TX) - 4.15% (2,540)
• Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) - 2.41% (1,478)
• Fmr. Gov. Jeb Bush (FL) - 2.18% (1,333)
• Gov. Chris Christie (NJ) - 1.83% (1,122)
• Rep. Paul Ryan (WI) - 1.64% (1,006)
• Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA) - 1.24% (760)
• Fmr. Sen. Rick Santorum (PA) - 1.02% (627)
• Gov. John Kasich (OH) - 0.65% (398)
• Gov. Mike Pence (IN) - 0.45% (273)
• Gov. Nikki Haley (SC) - 0.39% (240)
• Gov. Susana Martinez (NM) - 0.31% (187)

It's remarkable to see Ted Cruz and Rand Paul at the top of this list. When they ran for the Senate, the Washington establishment said they were bad for the party. Now, they are two of the party's top prospects for the White House in 2016.

I'm semi-surprised to see Mike Huckabee and Rick Perry so high on the list. They are two I could easily live with.