Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney won a straw poll at a major conference of conservatives here, with 38 percent of the vote, in a boost for his White House bid, US media reported.

Former senator Rick Santorum came in second with 31 percent, followed by former House speaker Newt Gingrich at 15 percent and Texas congressman Ron Paul at 12 percent, according to Fox News, CNN and The Washington Post.

The outcome of the straw poll of conservatives was announced near the end of a three-day meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference, which drew thousands of Republicans to hear the candidates make their case.

The win was a gust of good news for Romney after his loss in three state nominating contests to Santorum earlier had revived doubts about the depth of conservative support for his bid to take on President Barack Obama in November.