A new survey of conservative activists shows many in the movement see Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker as the strongest Republican to take on Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The survey wasn't scientific. But conservative activist group ForAmerica surveyed almost 10,000 of its Facebook members and more than 32 percent said Walker has the "best shot at beating Hillary Clinton" in the field, according to results shared first with National Journal.
Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon who has never held elected office, finished in second, with nearly 25 percent of the vote.
Sen. Ted Cruz (14 percent), Sen. Rand Paul (6.6 percent) and Jeb Bush (3.9 percent) rounded out the top five. Bush, who is expected to blow past his potential presidential rivals in fundraising this quarter, also finished fifth in the recent Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll.
ForAmerica, which is run by David Bozell and chaired by his father, Brent Bozell, has vowed to hold Republicans' feet to the fire in 2016 for hewing to a conservative line. Already, the group has skewered Bush for giving Clinton a public service award.
The ForAmerica survey included eight candidates (the others were Rick Perry, who finished with 3.3 percent, and Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie at 1.9 percent apiece). Members could also pencil in others, and Mike Huckabee led the write-in category, receiving pulling in 1.3 percent.
In anonymous comments shared by ForAmerica that accompanied the survey, the GOP activists didn't sound particularly enthused with the field. "We are screwed!!" lamented one. "None of these jokers," chimed in another.
