NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — When Fox News' Sean Hannity took the stage at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference, he had a question for the audience: "Who are you excited about?"
As he rattled off names, some candidates got rousing cheers — and others were booed.
Adam Gabbatt of The Guardian newspaper holds images of possible Republican candidates, from left, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Donald Trump, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, bellow, as he interviews Howard "Cowboy" Woodward during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Facing a packed field of possible 2016 Republican presidential contenders, Hannity said, "I'm just like a lot of you: I haven't decided who I think our party's [2016] nominee should be."
He went down the list of contenders, gauging audience response as he went.
At the mention of Dr. Ben Carson, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and dark horse candidate Carly Fiorina, the audience clapped.
But the clear winners were Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, both of whose name's elicited massive cheers.
A few candidates, on the other hand, were shunned by the CPAC crowd.
At the mention of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the clapping of supporters was drowned out by the boos of those opposed.
Hannity's informal poll came hours before Bush was scheduled to address CPAC — an address that could see a massive walkout.
Paul was scheduled to speak earlier on Friday, but his presentation was delayed due to a vote on the Senate floor, organizers said Friday morning. Paul's show of support may have benefited from having his advocates in the ballroom waiting for his delayed appearance.
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