President Rand Paul? Senator Wins Straw Poll

Rand Paul's prospects of securing the Republican presidential nomination have been given a massive boost - after he won the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference for the third year running.

The Kentucky senator picked up 25.7% of the vote, even though he hasn't announced whether he plans to run in 2016. Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, came second with 21%.

But it was a challenging conference for Jeb Bush , who is widely tipped as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. He only could only muster fifth place, with 8.3% of attendees supporting him.

The former governor of Florida - whose brother is two-term president George W Bush - was booed as the result of the straw poll was announced, and heckled as he gave a speech on Friday. Despite this, he has millions of dollars in the war chest for a potential campaign.

Following his victory, Mr Paul said in a statement: "The constitutional conservatives of our party have spoken in a loud and clear voice today. I plan on doing my part and I hope you will join me as I continue to make the GOP a bigger, better and bolder party."

According to pollsters, just over 3,000 attendees at the conference in suburban Washington cast a ballot. Half of those who voted were 18 to 25 years old, and claimed economic issues - including taxes and jobs - mattered most to them in the upcoming election.

The results of the straw poll are non-binding, and have a mixed history in predicting who will go on to be the next presidential nominee for the Republicans.

Mitt Romney won the vote in 2012, and went on to be nominated - but in 2008, John McCain was selected to stand against Barack Obama even though he was not the favourite in the straw poll.