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By Carrie Sheffield Former governor Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) won a presidential straw poll at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference. He won amid criticism that he had bussed in college students and paid their registration fees to help boost his ballot performance. Candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), was booed during the announcement of poll results. Conservatives seemed miffed that the senator chose not to attend their annual gathering. McCain placed fifth, Romney, former NYC mayor Rudy Giuiliani, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. All top four finishers, as well as second-tier candidates such as Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), chose to attend and speak at the gathering.