The Hill News

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R) avoided mentioning his fourth-place finish in the annual presidential straw poll at the Values Voters Summit when he talked up winner Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) on Sunday.

"Mike pence got a well deserved boost from the value voters summit when he came in first in their straw poll-he is a solid conservative," Gingrich tweeted. 

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) trailed Pence, who chairs the House GOP Conference, by only 11 votes. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) came in third and fifth, respectively. He had placed fifth during February's Conservative Political Action Conference behind Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), Romney, Palin, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R).

Palin meanwhile won the vice-presidential poll with a seven-vote lead over Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.). Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Huckabee placed third, fourth, and fifth.