Scott Walker ties for fifth in CPAC straw poll: Scott Conroy writes for Real Clear Politics : "In another indication of his strength among libertarian-leaning conservatives, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul won the 2014 presidential preference straw poll at CPAC on Saturday. A likely 2016 White House contender, Paul drew 31 percent of the votes to easily outpace Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (11 percent) and physician Ben Carson (9 percent). New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie followed with 8 percent, trailed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Sen. Rick Santorum (both 7 percent) and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (6 percent)." Read more

GOP factions find little common ground at CPAC: Robert Costa writes in The Washington Post: "The annual Conservative Political Action Conference came to a raucous and buoyant end Saturday as thousands of tea party activists cheered on former Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who closed the gathering with a full-throated denunciation of President Obama and urged conservatives to embrace their views more fiercely than ever. But over the course of its three days, the event put on display how factions within the Republican Party are still struggling to find a path out of the wilderness, illuminating the gap between the GOP’s resolutely conservative grass-roots and a party leadership eager for a more moderate approach." Read more