The DC: Gingrich wins straw poll of Tea Party Patriots activists

The Daily Caller's Alex Pappas reports that Newt Gingrich "handily won" a Sunday night straw poll of more than 23,000 activists associated with Tea Party Patriots:

The former speaker of the House won 31 percent of the vote, according to results released on Monday morning. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann followed with 28 percent.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came in third with 20 percent, and Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum followed with 16 percent of the votes cast.

Gingrich, Bachmann, Romney and Santorum all took questions from the activists during a conference call before the voting.

At the rear of the field, Texas Rep. Ron Paul came in at 3 percent, Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 2 percent and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman at .3 percent.

- JP