Mitt Romney (Photo: Getty)

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney capped off his victory in the Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll today with a win in the Maine Republican Caucus. Ron Paul came in second.

Mr. Romney was selected by 2,190 voters for 39 percent of the vote. Mr. Paul received 36 percent of the vote. Rick Santorum came in third with 18 percent and Newt Gingrich got just 6 percent.

Though Mr. Romney's win helps stop the momentum Mr. Santorum built after three straight victories last week, Mr. Paul was probably Maine's biggest loser. Mr. Paul focused a great deal of effort on Maine and was hoping to make it his first victory of the primary season. Despite his loss in Maine, Mr. Paul still hopes to earn a large number of delegates from Maine and other caucuses states by dominating the caucuses and conventions where the delegates are actually awarded.

Despite today's vote, Maine's delegates won't actually be awarded until the state GOP convention in May and delegates will be free to choose whichever candidate they prefer. Last week, the Associated Press calculated the primary delegate count so far and found Mr. Romney in the lead with 112 delegates followed by Mr. Santorum with 72, Mr. Gingrich with 32 and Mr. Paul with nine.

Sarah Palin (Photo: Getty)

WASHINGTON -- A group of protesters to attempted to "mic check" former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's keynote speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference at the Washington Wardman Park Mariott today. Audience members drowned out the occupiers with boos, chants of "U.S.A." and "Sarah!" before they were escorted from the hotel ballroom.

Ms. Palin briefly interrupted her speech, which was mostly an indictment of the Obama administration to join the CPAC audience in their "USA!" chants.

"See? You just won. You see how easy that is?" Ms. Palin asked as the protesters were removed from the room.

Witnesses in the hotel lobby told The Politicker the protesters were escorted out by police surrounded by a crowd of reporters. They did not believe any arrests were made. As of this writing, Ms. Palin's speech is still in progress.

Update (5:29 pm): A police officer at the D.C. Metropolitan Police's 2nd District station, which includes the Washington Wardman Park Mariott, said he was not aware of any arrests.

Kristy Campbell, a spokeswoman for the American Conservative Union, which organized CPAC, told us there was a plan in place to deal with potential protesters.

"We have a policy in place that people who are disrupted should be removed," Ms. Campbell said. "It's happened before."

Update (5:47 pm): Protesters affiliated with American University's chapter of the Occupy movement claimed responsibility for "mic checking" Ms. Palin's speech on Twitter. They apparently carried a banner with a defaced picture of Ms. Palin.

(Photo: Getty)

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney stopped Rick Santorum's primary winning streak with a victory in the straw poll at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference today. Mr. Santorum came in second. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul brought up the rear.

Mr. Romney won 38 percent of the vote compared to Mr. Santorum's 31 percent. Mr. Gingrich received 15 percent of the vote. Ron Paul, who won the CPAC straw polls in 2011 and 2010, earned 12 percent, but he did not participate in this year's conference. A total of 3,408 people participated in the poll.

Though the CPAC straw poll has no bearing on the GOP nomination process, Mr. Romney's victory should help to slow Mr. Santorum's momentum after his wins in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri last week. The win also dents Mr. Santorum's status as the choice of the Republican Party's conservative wing. Mr. Romney has had trouble connecting with more conservative voters during the campaign so far, but he made a major push to win the CPAC straw poll, busing in large numbers of supporters.

Sarah Palin (Photo: Getty)

WASHINGTON -- Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is making the keynote speech at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference today, but it won't include an endorsement in the race for the GOP nomination.

"Not today," Mr. Palin said when The Politicker asked if she would announce her pick at CPAC. 

Ms. Palin's endorsement is expected to be one of the most influential in the Republican race. Though she has stayed mum about her choice so far, her husband, Todd, came out and endorsed Newt Gingrich last month.

Mary Anne, Abby and Liddy Huntsman (Photo: Getty)

WASHINGTON -- Jon Hunstman's telegenic trio of daughters; Mary Anne, Abby and Liddy, claimed they were shunned by the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on their Twitter page yesterday.

"For everyone wondering if we made it to CPAC this year, the answer is no. We didn't quite make the list. #CPACdidntwantourcommentary," they wrote. 

In a press conference today, Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which hosts CPAC, said his organization never received a request from the Huntsman girls to take part in the conference.

"We've never received a request from any of them to participate at CPAC," Mr. Cardenas said in response to a question from The Politicker.

Mr. Cardenas went on to say he'd be happy to "contemplate" letting the Huntsman daughters join in on CPAC if they get in touch with him.

"Have them contact us, we'll be happy to contemplate the possibility."

The Huntsman daughters became media darlings and enjoyed a starring role in this year's presidential campaign prior to their dad's decision to drop out of the race last month.

As of this writing the Huntsman daughters have not responded to a request for comment on this story. See their original Tweet below.

Joe The Plumber (Photo: Getty)

WASHINGTON -- As demonstrators affiliated with Occupy Wall Street protested on the street outside the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, The Politicker spotted 2008 election star, Tea Party activist and Ohio Congressional candidate Joe "Joe The Plumber" Wurzelbacher standing in front of the Mariott Wardman Park hotel where the conference is being held.

"This is America and they're allowed to protest, everybody is," Mr. Wurzelbacher said.

Mr. Wurzelbacher said he didn't step outside the hotel to see the demonstrators.

"I just came out just to catch a breath of fresh air real quick and head back in."

Though Mr. Wurzelbacher supports the Occupiers right to protest, he said they should follow the example of the Tea Party movement and stay within the limits of the law.

"I do believe, you know, like the Tea Parties and whatnot, they definitely should exercise getting the permits that are required, following the laws that are in place," Mr. Wurzelbacher said. "I don't think anybody gets any special treatment."

Today's rally for a new Latino-majority district in Washington Heights and the Bronx began with a prayer.

Police oversight legislation will be introduced soon in Albany.

Shelly Silver claims no Congressional lines have been drafted, a potential boon to Carolyn McCarthy, whose district was rumored to be on the chopping block.

The Center for Urban Research, with their cool mapping system, will be ready to display the results when they come out.

Ruben Diaz Jr. is fine with new Congressional seats in the Bronx, but wants them to be mostly in his borough.

Adriano Espaillat, who wants to run in the new Latino-majority Congressional district, was quiet about his ambitions today.

Insiders think Bob Turner can win and his seat should survive.

Jimmy Oddo likes Christine Quinn for Mayor.

Mayor Bloomberg said Quinn's mandatory Kindergarten idea would cost $30 million.

A former State Senator turned lobbyist pleaded guilty to a felony today.

Don't worry, he can still lobby.

And he engaged in the time-honored tradition of paying legal bills with campaign money.

A local District Leader slammed Erik Dilan and his Congressional aspirations.

David Storobin received a local Tea Party endorsement.

Kirsten Gillibrand is cool with the contraception compromise.

A crazy threatening letter was sent to City Council offices.

Nicole Malliotakis and Marty Golden ate their Super Bowl wager winnings.

On the presidential campaign:

Mitt Romney at CPAC: I'm conservative guys!

Rick Santorum at CPAC drew contrast with his opponents.

CPAC has some clever conservative swag.

Santorum is doing better in the polls.

Newt Gingrich received a rare New York endorsement.

Callista Gingrich is taking on a more prominent campaign role.

Hunter Walker hung out with Herman Cain's former campaign manager.

Charles Barron (Photo: Facebook)

At a heated debate last night between Councilman Charles Barron and Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, both of whom are attempting to unseat Brooklyn Congressman Ed Towns, Mr. Barron leveled a big charge against Mr. Jeffries over his campaign contributions from the Police Benevolent Association, calling them "blood money," a phrase he repeated to The Politicker this afternoon.

"You can't criticize stop-and-frisk while taking money from the PBA," he said, chastising the NYPD for some of their controversial shootings.

Reached for a comment, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries didn't take kindly to the harsh criticism.

"My legislative record of accomplishment on stop-and-frisk and police reform issues is unimpeachable. The ‘blood money’ reference is strange and perplexing coming from someone who is an unabashed apologist of Muammar Gaddafi, Robert Mugabe and other rogue international dictators who have ruled with blood-soaked hands," Mr. Jeffries said, referring to Mr. Barron's strong support for the regimes of Mr. Gaddafi and Mr. Mugabe.

"Moving forward, it is my hope that the campaign will focus on the quality of life issues that are important to the people who live in the 10th Congressional district."

The election between Mr. Jeffries, Mr. Barron and Mr. Towns looks to be one of the most spirited Democratic primaries in New York State this year. Voters head to the polls June 26th.

The controversial Hanukkah card from "S.C. Team Santorum." (Photo: Facebook)

WASHINGTON -- Rick Santorum's campaign manager, Michael Biundo, responded to the growing controversy over a Hanukkah card signed by "S.C. Team Santorum" inscribed with a New Testament bible verse that implies non-Christians will "walk in darkness."

"It certainly wasn't an authorized graphic that they sent out. I'm not even sure who did it, you know, the South Carolina office is not even--you know, not together at this point," Mr. Biundo told The Politicker at the Conservative Political Action Conference today.

Mr. Santorum's Hanukkah hassle started Wednesday after this reporter found an image of the controversial card online and Tweeted a picture of it. The card featured a verse from the Gospel of John where Jesus says, "He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

Several media outlets subsequently picked up on the story and attributed the card directly to Mr. Santorum.

"Rick didn't say it and I'm not sure who did say it," Mr. Biundo said "I'm not even sure it actually did come from the campaign, to be honest with you."

The card was posted on Facebook last December 21 by a man named Joe St. John, who ran Mr. Santorum's campaign office in Rock Hill, South Carolina and has been described by news outlets as both a Santorum "campaign staffer" and "a district field representative with Santorum's campaign." Mr. Biundo said there were "four or five people" working on Mr. Santorum's South Carolina team in December.