There's one glaring omission from the 23 names on the straw poll ballot: Jeb Bush, who asked not to be on the list.

"It was our request to Mr. Cardenas when he extended the invite for Gov. Bush to speak. We asked not to be included, as Gov. Bush has said repeatedly, it is too early to think about 2016," Bush spokesperson Jaryn Emhof told CNN chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper.

For many conservative activists attending CPAC, the straw poll is fun, but they don't take it too seriously.

"I don't put much weight on it. It's a fun way of getting to see opinions, but it doesn't predict anything," said Ryan Robertson of Reston, Virginia.

"I did it for fun. Why not? But there's so much time between now and then," said Shelby Vest, a recent University of Florida graduate and first time straw poll voter.

Teresa Ferguson of Albertville, Ala., sees a value in the straw poll.

"We've got to start thinking about someone, don't we?"

She said the results may reflect the hopes and dreams of some, but added that the straw poll is "a popularity contest."