Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference presidential straw poll, carrying 38 percent of the vote.

It is a comeback of sorts — Romney was a three-year winner from 2007 to 2009, but had come in behind Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) the past two years.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), riding high from three primary wins on Tuesday night, came in second with the support of 31 percent of those participating.

Former Speaker Gingrich (Ga.), in the past a crowd favorite at CPAC, came in third with 15 percent.

Paul finished in a distant fourth place. The sharp change of heart on Paul is likely a reflection of the fact that he did not attend this year’s conference.